Vertical Hearth Barbecue With Removable Partition for Combustion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vertical hearth barbecues face difficulties in lighting due to their narrow design, have unpredictable combustion propagation, and lack regulation of combustion rate, leading to excessive charcoal consumption and challenges in using larger combustibles.
Innovation Solution
A vertical hearth barbecue design with a removable partition separating the hearth and combustion chamber, allowing for controlled lighting and air supply, and a removable lid for regulating combustion, enabling the use of various combustibles and reducing charcoal consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the hearth is made narrow to reduce combustible consumption, then combustible consumption is reduced, but lighting becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The hearth is divided into multiple compartments by vertical partitions, creating separate chambers for lighting and combustion. This segmentation allows the lighting compound to be positioned in one compartment while maintaining overall narrow hearth dimensions, thus reducing combustible consumption while preserving lighting accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
A removable grid or platform is introduced as an intermediary element within the hearth compartments. This intermediary structure facilitates the placement and lighting of lighting compound in narrow spaces, making the lighting process easier while maintaining the narrow hearth design for reduced combustible consumption
2Productivity
If the hearth height is increased to accommodate more charcoal, then roasting capacity is improved, but lighting propagation becomes slow and unpredictable
Solution Approach 1:
The tall hearth is divided into multiple compartments by vertical partitions, creating shorter effective lighting distances within each compartment. This segmentation allows lighting to propagate quickly within each small chamber while the overall hearth maintains sufficient height for large charcoal loads and high roasting capacity
Solution Approach 2:
Lighting compound is pre-positioned in specific compartments before charcoal is loaded. This preliminary placement ensures that lighting starts from multiple predetermined points simultaneously, accelerating the overall lighting propagation through the tall hearth while maintaining the ability to hold large quantities of charcoal
3Power
If the hearth is exposed to air through its entire surface for maximal combustion rate, then firepower is increased for roasting, but charcoal consumption becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The hearth is divided into multiple compartments by vertical partitions, allowing selective control of air supply to each compartment. This segmentation enables the user to open air vents in only the active compartments while closing others, maintaining high firepower where needed while reducing overall charcoal consumption by limiting combustion to only the compartments currently in use
Solution Approach 2:
Removable or adjustable air vents and dampers are incorporated in each compartment, allowing dynamic control of air supply. The user can adjust the degree of air intake in real-time based on roasting needs, enabling the system to operate at high firepower when required while switching to low consumption mode during pauses or when maintaining temperature
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the hearth is made narrow for vertical design, then food quality is improved by avoiding combustion gases, but use of larger combustibles is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The hearth utilizes vertical space more effectively by increasing height while maintaining narrow width, creating multiple stacked compartments. This dimensional change allows the hearth to accommodate larger combustibles vertically through the stacked compartment structure while still preventing combustion gas exposure to food through the narrow compartment design and controlled air vents
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 design facilitates easy and predictable lighting, reduces combustible consumption, allows for slow burning mode, and accommodates larger combustibles, improving food quality and roasting control.
Implementation Method 1
the hearth and the combustion chamber are separated by a common partition which is removable
Implementation Method 2
The combustible used in barbecues is indeed generally charcoal
Implementation Method 3
the combustion is activated by convection airstreams in the hearth and around it
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
Barbecue with a vertical hearth, in which the hearth (1) is surmounted by a combustion chamber (2) which is separated from the hearth by a common partition (6) which can be removed.