Refractory Oven with Heated Volume Insulation for High-Heat Cooking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Creating a high-heat environment for cooking, such as for New York style or Neapolitan style pizzas, is difficult and inefficient in residential or small-scale settings due to the need for large, expensive ovens that consume excessive fuel and lose heat inefficiently, and often involve learning to navigate 'hot spots' and 'cool spots'.
Innovation Solution
A refractory cooking device comprising a refractory oven with a cooking chamber that absorbs and transfers thermal energy via conduction, radiation, and convection, using an external heat source, and is housed in a structure that reduces thermal energy loss, allowing for efficient creation of a high-heat environment between 315.56°C and 593.33°C.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a large oven is used to create a high-heat environment, then the cooking temperature can be achieved, but the device occupies large space and costs thousands of dollars
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooking system into two separate components: an external heat source (grill) and a refractory cooking chamber. This segmentation allows the high-heat generation and food cooking to occur in separate locations, enabling compact cooking device while achieving high temperatures through the refractory material's thermal properties
Solution Approach 2:
The refractory cooking chamber acts as an intermediary between the external heat source and the food. It absorbs thermal energy from the external source and transfers it to the food through conduction, radiation, and convection, enabling high-heat cooking without requiring the food to be directly exposed to extreme temperatures
2Temperature
If a large oven is used to create a high-heat environment, then the cooking temperature can be achieved, but fuel consumption increases and heat loss is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking chamber is constructed from refractory materials with high thermal mass and insulation properties. These composite materials absorb and retain thermal energy efficiently, maintaining high cooking temperatures while minimizing heat loss to the surrounding environment, thereby reducing fuel consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The refractory materials maintain thermal energy continuously, allowing the cooking chamber to retain heat after the external heat source is removed or reduced. This continuous thermal action enables sustained high-temperature cooking without constant energy input, improving energy efficiency
3Temperature
If a large oven is used to create a high-heat environment, then the cooking temperature can be achieved, but the device is difficult to operate due to hot spots and cool spots
Solution Approach 1:
The refractory cooking chamber provides uniform thermal distribution throughout the cooking space. The high thermal mass of the refractory materials ensures that heat is evenly distributed across the cooking surface, eliminating hot spots and cool spots and providing consistent cooking conditions throughout the chamber
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and cost-effective creation of a high-heat environment for cooking various food items, including pizzas, steaks, and baked goods, using existing external heat sources, reducing energy waste and improving cooking consistency.
Implementation Method 1
The refractory oven is configured to absorb thermal energy received from the external heat source and transfer the thermal energy to foodstuffs in contact with a cooking surface of the refractory oven via thermal conduction
Implementation Method 2
The refractory oven is configured to absorb the thermal energy and transfer the thermal energy to the foodstuffs via thermal radiation
Implementation Method 3
The heated volume is configured to reduce transfer of thermal energy from the cooking chamber through the refractory oven
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A cooking device may include a refractory oven and a housing. The refractory oven may define a cooking chamber that may be configured to receive thermal energy from an external heat source. The refractory oven may further define an opening configured to allow foodstuffs to be introduced into the cooking chamber. The refractory oven may be further configured to substantially surround the foodstuffs while the foodstuffs are positioned inside the cooking chamber. The housing may at least partially surround the refractory oven. The housing and the refractory oven may define a heated volume between an external surface of the refractory oven and an internal surface of the housing. The heated volume may be configured to receive thermal energy from the external heat source and to reduce transfer of thermal energy from the cooking chamber through refractory oven.