System for cleaning circulating oven air with reduced thermal disruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oven systems face challenges in cleaning air circulated through the cooking chamber without disrupting thermal conditions, leading to non-uniform cooking and increased cooling requirements.
Innovation Solution
An air cleaning system that includes a catalytic assembly and a preheater, where the preheater uses heated air from the catalytic assembly to warm fresh air before it enters the cooking chamber, while cooling the discharged air to prevent thermal shock and maintain cooking uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If air is drawn from or inserted into the cooking chamber for catalytic conversion, then air cleaning is achieved, but temperature uniformity and cooking ability are disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air cleaning function from the cooking chamber by creating a separate flow path that draws air from the oven interior without directly disrupting the cooking environment. The catalytic converter is positioned in the exhaust gas path rather than within the cooking chamber, allowing air cleaning to occur outside the thermal zone while still treating fumes and particulates generated during cooking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary heating element or heat exchanger that transfers thermal energy from the exhaust gas path to the incoming air path. This mediator allows the cold air used for catalytic conversion to be heated without directly contacting the cooking chamber, thus maintaining temperature uniformity while enabling effective air cleaning through the catalytic converter.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If cold air is introduced into the cooking chamber for catalytic conversion, then air cleaning is achieved, but thermal shock and cooking uniformity are disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary heating to the air before it enters the cooking chamber or catalytic converter system. A heating element or heat exchanger preheats the incoming air, ensuring that when this air is introduced or circulated, it does not create thermal shock to the cooking environment or the catalytic converter materials. This preliminary thermal conditioning prevents harmful thermal effects while maintaining air cleaning functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the air stream by incorporating heating mechanisms in the air path. The air temperature is adjusted from cold ambient conditions to a warmer state that is compatible with the cooking chamber environment and catalytic converter operation, thereby eliminating thermal shock while preserving the air cleaning function.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If catalytic converter is placed in communication with oven gases, then air cleaning is achieved, but system efficiency and cooking uniformity are disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the catalytic converter from the main cooking air flow path and places it specifically in the exhaust gas path. This separation allows the catalytic converter to treat exhaust gasses and pollutants without interfering with the primary cooking air circulation, thereby maintaining system efficiency and cooking uniformity while still achieving effective air cleaning of harmful emissions.
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
This solution enhances cooking performance by minimizing temperature variations and reducing cooling demands, ensuring consistent cooking results and a more comfortable working environment.
Implementation Method 1
The preheater may be configured to receive hot, cleaned air from the catalytic assembly in an outlet duct to transfer heat to fresh air provided from outside the oven in an inlet duct
Implementation Method 2
A catalytic converter generally uses a catalyst to facilitate a chemical reaction to convert toxic gases or pollutants in the exhaust gas into less harmful states by catalyzing a redox reaction
Implementation Method 3
A catalytic converter generally uses a catalyst to facilitate a chemical reaction to convert toxic gases or pollutants in the exhaust gas into less harmful states by catalyzing a redox reaction
Implementation Method 4
The catalytic converter itself uses high temperatures to burn toxic gases or pollutants
Data Source
AI summary
An air cleaning system for an oven that includes a cooking chamber configured to receive a food product includes a catalytic assembly and a preheater. The catalytic assembly may be configured to clean air expelled from the cooking chamber. The preheater may be configured to receive hot, cleaned air from the catalytic assembly in an outlet duct to transfer heat to fresh air provided from outside the oven in an inlet duct to preheat the fresh air to heated input air prior to provision of the heated input air into the cooking chamber.