Tunnel Oven Heating Module for Combined Radiant and Convection Baking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tunnel ovens for baking food products are limited in flexibility and efficiency, often dominated by a single cooking mode, and lack a compact, adaptable heating system that can effectively combine radiant and convection modes.
Innovation Solution
A heating device comprising tubular elements with aspirating and blowing channels, a fan, and electric resistances, allowing for convection, radiant, and mixed cooking modes, with adjustable air jets and a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If distinct parts are assembled in a cascade to achieve multiple cooking modes, then cooking flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines radiant heating elements and convection heating elements into a single integrated heating device. The radiant heater includes an inner tube with openings for gas injection and an outer tube with radiant surfaces, while convection heaters are integrated into the same structure. This merging allows multiple cooking modes (radiant, convection, and combined) to be achieved without requiring separate distinct parts assembled in a cascade, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining cooking flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating device is designed as a universal system that can perform multiple cooking functions through a single integrated structure. The device can operate in radiant mode, convection mode, or combined mode depending on the activation of different heating elements within the same unit. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heating systems for different cooking modes, reducing structural complexity while providing adaptability for various food products.
2Device complexity
If a single dominant cooking mode is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different food products deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heating device incorporates dynamic control capabilities that allow it to switch between different cooking modes (radiant, convection, or combined) based on the specific food products being processed. The system can adjust the operation of different heating elements dynamically, enabling a single simple-structured device to adapt to various cooking requirements for different food types, thereby maintaining simplicity while improving product adaptability.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional heating systems are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but heating efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a gas injection system with nozzles that deliver gas (such as steam or other heating gases) directly into the heating chamber through the inner tube of the radiant heater. This pneumatic injection mechanism enhances heating efficiency by introducing additional heat transfer media directly at the heating interface, improving productivity while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the integration of standard pneumatic components into the existing tube structure.
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
The heating device provides flexible and efficient cooking by combining convection and radiant modes, achieving efficient heating with adjustable air jets and a compact structure.
Implementation Method 1
A convection heating system is also provided which includes an upper convection heater located above and extending across the conveyor path. The upper convection heater has an upper plenum with supply areas located between each of the radiant heaters.
Implementation Method 2
a group of electric resistances arranged between the aspirating channel and the blowing channel
Implementation Method 3
The outer tube has an outer surface which is adapted to radiate heat.
Data Source
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AI summary
A heating device (100), in particular for use in a tunnel oven (1) for baking food products, the heating device (100) comprising: − a first tubular element (101) having a first set of through openings (102) and delimiting an aspirating channel; − a second tubular element (104) having a second set of through openings (105) and delimiting a blowing channel which is in fluid communication with the aspirating channel; − a group of electric resistances (107) arranged between the aspirating channel and the blowing channel; − a fan (108) operatively active on the first tubular element (101) so as to suck air from an outer environment into the aspirating channel through the first set of through openings (102) and route the sucked air towards the electric resistances (107) and the blowing channel so that the air is distributed by the second set of through openings (105).