WO2016135538A1

WO2016135538A1 - Electric oven

Info

Publication number: WO2016135538A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/055610
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giordano PINARELLO; Alessandro BAILINI
Original assignee: Blue Foundation S.R.L.
Priority date: 2015-02-27
Filing date: 2015-07-24
Publication date: 2016-09-01

Abstract

An electric oven (10) comprising a housing compartment (13) for a product (100), heating means (15) for the product (100) disposed in the housing compartment (13). The electric oven (10) also comprises an energy conversion device configured to be thermally isolated from a portion of a wall of the housing compartment (13), so as to keep the heat inside of the housing compartment (13) in a first operating configuration for heating of the product (100) and configured to convert the residual heat within the housing compartment (13) into electrical energy in a second operating configuration for energy recovery of the electric oven (10).

Description

ELECTRIC OVEN

The present invention relates to an electric oven with energy recovery. In particular, the present invention relates to an electric oven with high energy efficiency for use both in the industrial field, for subjecting to a heat treatment the content of the oven, and in the domestic environment for the cooking/heating of food.

In other words, the electric oven in accordance with the present invention is an oven having low energy dispersions and suitable to perform an at least partial recovery of the remaining thermal energy, i.e. the thermal energy not transferred to the food or to an object contained therein and to be heated.

The oven according with the present invention has a particularly advanced electronic control to efficiently manage the heating and the energy recovery cycles and optionally to allow the use of the electric oven by a remote user by means of an interface for transmitting data to a remote management system, for example connected to a network such as Internet, Intranet, or to a home automation management system.

In the following, we will refer to an electric oven for cooking food as a not limiting example of the application.

Nowadays appliances have increasingly higher energy efficiency performance, in particular ovens for domestic use must meet energy efficiency regulations that are continuously updated in a more selective and restrictive manner. Appliances having increasing energy efficiency and with the possibility of an integrated management, help to optimize the overall consumption of private buildings.

State-of-the-art technical solutions to increase energy efficiency of electric ovens are aimed primarily at a higher thermal insulation between the hot zone (typically the housing chamber of the oven) and the outside. This aspect allows less heat dispersion, more maintaining time of the temperature of the oven, even when it is turned off, and a higher thermal stability in the oven housing itself. Other technical solutions adopted, often in a synergistic way, for reducing the consumption of the ovens are the creation and use of electronic circuits increasingly simple and efficient in terms of power consumption, the use of lighting systems with low consumption within the oven housing and for the lights on the control panel, and the optimization of the air flows created by the fans, for example the cooling fan for the electronic part and/or the convection fan for the oven housing.

Considering the above, all known state-of-the-art solutions are aimed at reducing consumption.

The appliance ideal from the point of view of energy consumption would be able to transfer energy to the food only. Therefore, such a device would consume the energy strictly necessary for cooking the food, or more generally for thermally treating the content.

Even ignoring the basic integration and the cost constraints associated with the use of high performance materials, it is not physically possible to think of an oven that can prevent the transfer of part of the energy consumed to the structure of the oven itself and then to the environment. Therefore, the technological development of electric ovens can basically address the recovery of the aforementioned fraction of energy transferred to the structure of the oven.

The object of the present invention is to provide an electric oven with high energy efficiency by means of the at least partial recovery of the energy transferred to the structure of the oven during the use of the same.

In particular, it is object of the present invention to provide an electric oven with high energy efficiency thanks to a reduction in consumption of electrical energy during a heating cycle of the contents. More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, the electric oven allows the recovery of a part of the energy used in a heating cycle with the same energy in a subsequent use of the oven itself, in the case of household oven: a cooking cycle, a preheating or defrosting phase of food, or the like. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric oven with high energy efficiency capable of recovering and/or efficiently converting the energy used for heating the oven already at low temperature differences, between the oven housing and the external environment, equal to a few tens of degrees.

These and other objects are substantially achieved by an electric oven for heating and/or thermally treating a content according with one or more of the appended claims.

Further characteristics and advantages will become clearer from the detailed description of one preferred but not limitative embodiment of an electric oven for cooking food according with the present invention.

This description is provided with reference to the accompanying figures, also provided only by way of example and not limitation, in which:

- Figure 1 is a prospective schematic view of an electric oven for cooking food according with the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of the electric oven of Figure 1 in a first operative configuration of use; and

- Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of the electric oven of Figure 1 in a second operative configuration of use.

In reference to the appended figures 1 -3, an electric oven 10 for heating and/or thermally treating a product or content 100 of the oven 10 has been generally illustrated in a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, in accordance with the present invention. In accordance with a preferred not- limiting embodiment of the present invention, the reference number 100 is used in this case in a specific way to indicate the food when the oven 10 is substantially an electric oven of household type.

The electric oven 10 has on the front side an access door 1 1 and a control panel 12 having lights, display and control knobs. The access door 1 1 of the electric oven 10 allows access to a housing compartment 13 for the food, defined by a plurality of side walls 14.

The electric oven 10 includes heating means 15 to provide energy in the housing compartment 13 of the oven 10.

In accordance with the present invention, but not in a limiting manner of the inventive concept of the same, the heating means 15 comprise resistive heating elements, preferably electrical resistors 15a, which preferably are arranged at the upper and lower walls of the housing compartment 13 (as illustrated in the Figures 2 and 3 appended).

Preferably, the heating means 15 comprise a convection fan 15b arranged on the rear wall of the housing compartment 13 so as to create a flow of heated air.

In accordance with the inventive concept of the present invention, the electric oven 10 may also be a "combined oven", thanks to the combination of a resistive heating system with a microwave heater or with a heater/steam generator.

In fact, in one embodiment, not illustrated in the appended figures, the heating means 15 of the electric oven 10 comprises a plurality of resistive heating elements 15a coupled to a microwave generator for generating heat within the housing compartment 13. This embodiment of the electric oven 10 allows the synergistic combination of simultaneous operation of both heaters/generators or the separate operation of the same.

In a different embodiment, not illustrated in the appended figures, the heating means 15 of the electric oven 10 comprise, in addition to the resistive heater, a heater/steam generator for generating heat within the housing compartment 13 and for cooking food 100 in alternative way to the traditional techniques. This above embodiment of the electric oven 10 allows the synergistic combination of simultaneous operation of both heaters/generators or the separate operation of the same.

Preferably, in reference to the Figures 2 and 3 appended, the electric oven 10 comprises cooling means 16 for forcibly cooling an electronic control circuit 12a associated with the control panel 12. The electronic control circuit 12a of the electric oven 10 is presented being separated and isolated from the hot portion of the oven 10, in other words not close to the housing compartment 13 when in use, while the cooling means 16 allow to keep the temperature of the electronic control circuit 12a below a critical value of temperature for optimum operation.

Preferably, the cooling means 16 of the electronic circuit 12a comprises a cooling fan and a temperature sensor (not shown in the appended figures) for activating/deactivating the fan itself.

Preferably, the electric oven 10 comprises specific devices and an electric circuit, not illustrated in the appended figures, configured to allow a pyrolytic cleaning of the electric oven 10 itself.

Preferably, these features are incorporated in each embodiment of an electric oven in accordance with the inventive concept of the present invention, therefore it is included for both an electric oven 10 for domestic use and an electric oven 10 for industrial use.

Advantageously, the electric oven 10 comprises an energy conversion device 17 configured to convert the thermal energy into electrical energy, and vice versa, during the use of the electric oven 10 by a user.

Preferably, the electric oven 10 by means of the energy conversion device 17 allows converting the thermal energy into electrical energy in two main operative configurations of use of the electric oven 10 described better hereinafter.

By way of example and not of limitation, the electric oven 10 by means of the energy conversion device 17 allows converting the thermal energy into electrical energy by a thermoelectric or thermo-photovoltaic device.

In addition, the electric oven 10 comprises a storage device for the electrical energy, the storage device may include, by way of example and not of limitation, rechargeable batteries and/or capacitors or supercapacitors.

In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, the electric oven 10 comprises a battery 18 of the rechargeable type, in particular the energy conversion device 17 is in electrical connection with the battery 18 at least to allow the accumulation of converted energy. Preferably, the rechargeable battery 18 is of the NiCd, lithium-ions, nickel-metal hydride type, and allows storing, in the case of a household oven, up to about 300 Wh.

In detail, the battery 18 is preferably configured to help to power the electronic control circuit 12a and/or the cooling means 16 of the electronic circuit 12a itself and/or lighting means 19 within the housing compartment 13. The internal lighting means 19 of the electric oven 10 may include incandescent bulbs, LED-type light emitters that are resistant to the cooking temperatures of the electric oven 10, or other elements suitable for the purpose of making visible the housing compartment 13 from the outside 200.

The electronic control circuit 12a is configured so as to manage the flows of power of the various electric users and the charge/discharge cycles of the battery 18, and/or other elements of the storage device such as capacitors and/or supercapacitors, as above described.

In accordance with the inventive concept of the present invention, the electric oven 10 is designed to operate according to a first and a second operating configuration illustrated schematically in Figures 2 and 3 appended, respectively.

In a first operating configuration of the oven 10, it operates to heat and keep the temperature of the food 100 disposed in the housing compartment 13.

In the second operating configuration, the electric oven 10 allows to recover the thermal energy transferred to the cavity of the oven 10 during its use, for example for cooking or heating the food 100, or for the execution of a phase of pyrolytic cleaning.

In detail, in the first operating configuration for heating (cooking of the food 100 or cleaning) of the electric oven 10, it has a temperature of the housing compartment 13 higher than the temperature of the external environment 200 and it is maintained until the end of the process.

In this operating condition, the energy conversion device 17 is configured to be thermally isolated from a portion of a wall of the housing compartment 13 so as to keep and not disperse the heat inside the housing compartment 13.

Preferably, in the first operating configuration of the electric oven 10, the battery 18 directly contributes to power at least the electronic control circuit 12a and the control panel 12, and/or cooling means 16 of the electronic circuit 12a itself and/or the internal lighting means 19 of the housing compartment 13.

Advantageously, in the first operating configuration of the electric oven 10, the peak power absorbed by the oven itself is reduced of the electrical power supplied by the battery 18 that powers the elements listed above, i.e., for example, the fans 15b-16, lights 19 and electronic circuits 12a. In other words, the electric power absorbed by the electric oven 10 is lower than the electric power of a similar electric oven having the housing compartment at the same temperature and the same performance. In fact, at equal conditions, the reduction of consumption of the electric oven 10 is to be attributed to the electrical power inputted by the battery 18 in the oven 10 itself without necessitating an equal power absorption from the domestic electric network that an electric oven of known type would done. In the second operating configuration, as shown in Figure 3 appended, the oven 10 allows to absorb the residual heat inside the housing compartment 13 and to convert it into electrical energy by means of the energy conversion device 17, which is particularly configured to convert the residual heat inside the housing compartment 13 into electrical energy. In the second operating configuration, the energy conversion device 17 is in electrical connection with the battery 18 to allow the lasting and effective accumulation of such electrical energy. The electrical energy stored in the battery 18 is available to be used in a subsequent use of the electric oven 10. The management of the cycle of accumulation and use of electrical energy is preferably performed by a part of the electronic control circuit 12a. It should be noted that the operating configurations of operation of the electric oven 10 described above are not illustrated by way of limitation but rather in order to illustrate the inventive concept of the present invention. In fact, according to the inventive concept of the present invention, variants or other operative configurations of the electric oven 10 may be provided.

In particular, as already described, the heating means 15 comprise a plurality of resistive elements, but may also include a heater of other type, for example a microwave heater (not shown) possibly working in conjunction with the electrical resistors 15a for a fast heating or defrosting of the food 100.

The electric heaters 15a and the microwave heater are configured to operate together or independently with each other.

The structure and mode of operation of the energy conversion device 17 and of the elements of the oven 10 associated therewith will now be described in detail.

By way of example and not of limitation, the energy conversion device 17 comprises a thermoelectric generator 17a, shown schematically in Figures 2 and 3 appended, or a thermo-photovoltaic generator (not shown in the appended figures) configured to convert the thermal energy, and more in particular the thermal energy that remains within the oven itself at the end of the operations of normal use of the oven (food cooking, cycles of pyrolytic self-cleaning, and so on) into accumulate electrical energy, which may then be re-inputted to the heating circuits of the oven during the subsequent uses.

In the embodiment of the energy conversion device 1 7 comprising the thermoelectric generator 17a (also known by the acronym TEG), it is noted that such a generator 17a has at least one junction made of thermoelectric materials enclosed between two sheet-like elements parallel to each other, which act as thermal contact between the two faces of the junction of thermoelectric materials and the two different temperature zones that create the thermal gradient. The two sheet-like elements are identified as the hot side 17b and the cold side 17c and are in contact with the zone at a higher temperature and the zone at temperature lower than the thermal gradient, respectively.

Preferably, the thermoelectric generator 17a in the electric oven 10 is housed in such a way as to have a hot side 17b turned towards an inner wall that defines the housing compartment 13, while a cold side 17c is turned towards a zone at a lower temperature. In the preferred form of the present invention, the thermoelectric generator 17a has its hot side 17b turned towards the upper wall of the housing compartment 13 of the electric oven 10. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cold side 17c is preferably housed in the zone in which the cooling system of the electronic circuit 12a is also disposed and has the thermal connection elements with the external environment 200 to be able to ensure the higher possible thermal gradient. In fact, the higher the power produced by thermoelectric generator 17a, the higher the thermal gradient to which the hot side 17b and the cold side 17c are subjected. The thermal connection elements constitute a thermal bridge towards the external environment 200. By way of example and not of limitation, these connection elements could be made of a metallic material coated with thermally insulating material or of a hollow region inside a thermally insulating material.

Preferably, the thermoelectric generator 17a in accordance with the present invention is suitable for operating up to a maximum temperature inside the housing compartment 13 of approximately 550°C (primarily to allow the carrying out of the procedure of the pyrolytic cleaning), while in the case of household non-pyrolytic ovens at a maximum temperature of about 300°C.

Preferably, in accordance with the present invention, the thermoelectric generator 17a is made of one or more thermoelectric junctions optimized to generate electric power in the presence of different thermal gradients. By way of example and not of limitation, the thermoelectric junctions can be made of Bi2Te3 (optimized for operation with a thermal gradient between 0 and 200°C), Sb2Te3 (optimized for operation with a thermal gradient between 0°C and 200°C), PbTe (optimized for operation with a thermal gradient between 300°C and 200°C), Zn₄Sb3 (optimized for operation with a thermal gradient between 400°C and 500°C), CoSb3 (optimized for operation with a thermal gradient between 400°C and 500°C), CeFe4Sbi2 (optimized for operation with a thermal gradient comprised between 400°C and 500°C), PbTeSe (optimized for operation with a thermal gradient between 400°C and 500°C).

In accordance with the inventive concept of the present invention, more than a thermoelectric generator 17a may be present, and each thermoelectric generator can be made of a different thermoelectric material. In this way, it is possible to obtain the maximum energy conversion utilizing the thermoelectric generator more appropriate for the specific thermal gradient. The different thermoelectric generators can operate one after the other and to be selected and controlled by the control electronics 12a.

In a first type of electric oven 10, the oven 10 itself has the thermoelectric generator 17a structured to function effectively at a maximum temperature that corresponds to the maximum temperature of use of a low-cost thermoelectric generator. By way of example, the maximum operating temperature to which the thermoelectric generator is exploited is about 120°C.

In accordance with the inventive concept of the present invention, the thermoelectric generator 17a has different configurations of operation and/or different arrangement between the first and the second operating configuration of the electric oven 10.

In accordance with the first operating configuration for cooking of the electric oven 10, the thermoelectric generator 17a is in a position at a portion of a wall of the housing compartment 13 but is isolated and/or spaced therefrom, as shown in the diagram of Figure 2 appended.

Advantageously, the hot side 17b of the thermoelectric generator 17a is free from any flow of thermal energy from the housing compartment 13 to the hot side 17b of the generator itself. The thermoelectric generator 17a of the electric oven 10 in such configuration allows keeping the heat generated by the heating means 15 inside said housing compartment 13 during the cooking of the food 100.

By way of mere example and not of limitation, in order to isolate the hot side 17b of the thermoelectric generator 17a from the hot housing compartment 13, a temporary removal of the hot side 17b from the upper wall of the compartment 13 can be substantially provided, or alternatively the interposition of an insulating material can be provided, which temporarily interrupts the flow of heat from the compartment 13 to the hot side 17b of the generator 17a.

In accordance with the second operative configuration for recovery of thermal energy transferred to the structure of the electric oven 10, the thermoelectric generator 17a is at and in direct contact with a portion of a wall of the housing compartment 13, as shown in the diagram of Figure 3 appended.

Advantageously, the hot side 17b of the thermoelectric generator 17a is subject to a flow of thermal energy from the housing compartment 13 to the hot side 17b of the generator itself. The thermoelectric generator 17a of the electric oven 10 in this configuration allows to convert the absorbed heat energy into electrical energy and to use it preferably to charge the battery 18.

In the embodiment (not illustrated) of the energy conversion device 17, which includes a generator of the thermo-photovoltaic type, one can imagine an integration similar to that described for the device comprising the thermoelectric generator, with the notable difference that this type of generator does not require a jump in temperature but only the possibility of absorbing a heat source to which it has to be functionally coupled. In other words, the energy conversion device 17 comprising the generator of the thermo-photovoltaic type does not has a cold side and can therefore be placed in the oven with less integration constraints compared to the embodiment with a thermoelectric generator; the only care to keep in mind is to meet the operating temperature limits of the electronic components of the thermo-photovoltaic generator, such as the photovoltaic converter. In accordance with the inventive concept of the present invention, the thermo-photovoltaic generator comprises a generation cell configured to convert a thermal energy present or dispersed in the housing compartment 13 into an electric energy in a second operating configuration for energy recovery of the electric oven 10.

In a possible embodiment of the electric oven 10 comprising the thermo- photovoltaic generator, it provides a plurality of conversion cells arranged for example on the side walls 14 defining the housing compartment 13. In a different solution of the electric oven 10 described above, the energy conversion device 17 also includes a converter element operatively associated with one or more conversion cells and configured to absorb thermal energy from the housing compartment 13 and to transfer it to the generation cell (or to cells) itself, which then functionally interacts (or interact) with the converter element just mentioned.

From the manufacturing point of view, the energy conversion device may comprise one or more bodies - functionally identifiable as one or more collector elements for the thermal energy - made of radiant material (for example in the form of plate-like bodies arranged on the walls 14 of the compartment housing 13): these bodies made of radiant material absorb the thermal energy - typically by conduction, for example when they are in contact with the hot wall - and emit a radiation as a function of this absorption.

The radiation from one or more collector elements is characterized by wavelength characteristics (wavelength and/or frequency) that are tuned to the absorption capacity of the converter (or converters), and is conveyed toward the converter/s by appropriate technical means that have waveguide characteristics for the emitted radiation: in this way, the generation of energy/electric current is maximized in terms of efficiency. According to the available state of the art (but not for limitative purposes of the invention), the thermo-photovoltaic generator of the electric oven 10 can be made of materials selected from tungsten nano-polymers or materials based on gallium compounds or materials based on oxides of the so-called "rare earths".

From the functional point of view, the electric oven 10 according to the description above and/or as claimed below may comprise (at least in its form equipped with the thermoelectric generator) switching means (not shown) associated at least with the thermoelectric generator 17a and managed by the electronic control circuit 12a. The switching means are not described in detail here because they may include mechanical and electrical elements of the known type and for which the purpose is to stress the function that they perform between the first and the second operating configuration of use of the electric oven 10.

The switching means associated with the thermoelectric generator 17a allow switching alternately the hot side 17b between a condition of thermal insulation from a portion of a wall of the housing compartment 13 to a condition of maximum flow of thermal energy from a portion of a wall of the housing compartment 13.

The switching means allow switching the configuration of operation of the thermoelectric generator 17a alternately between the first operating configuration and the second operating configuration of the electric oven

10.

In particular, the possibility of switching the operation of the thermoelectric generator 17a can take place at different operating temperatures of the electric oven 10 itself, in this way it is possible to use thermoelectric generators having different energy efficiency and economy of construction.

For operating temperatures of the thermoelectric generator that are quite limited (for example approximately 120°C as maximum temperature of the oven 10), the generator itself can be realized an economical way by the use of materials readily available on the market. For higher operating temperatures of the thermoelectric generator, the materials and the production technology increase accordingly in terms of costs.

In reference to the inventive concept of the present invention, the control of these switching means is preferably performed by the electronic control circuit 12a.

Advantageously, the control of the switching means operates in such a way as to alternate thermoelectric generators if there are more than one thermoelectric generator 17a, so as to allow the heat flow through the thermoelectric generator 17a in relation to the thermal gradient, which corresponds to the optimum point of operation of the single thermoelectric generator. This characteristic of the electric oven 10 will allow using different thermoelectric materials that vary in terms of performance and cost, and then, for example, to use cheaper materials for the ovens in the lowest price range, possibly accepting lower performance of energy recovery.

The present invention has achieved the intended purposes.

Advantageously, the electric oven in accordance with the present invention allows obtaining an effective increase of energy efficiency and the reduction in the peak power absorbed by the oven itself by inputting the electric power from the battery installed on board of the oven.

Advantageously, the electric oven described above has very low manufacturing costs with electrical and electronic components of simple realization, especially in reference to the thermoelectric generator, allowing having a positive impact on the economies of scale of the electric oven itself.

In fact, the thermoelectric generator of the type described above has specifications for use such as the operating temperature range (between minimum and maximum) for the hot side and the cold side that can be met by using and coupling cheap thermoelectric materials that are known to be easily available on the market and inexpensive.

Advantageously, the electric oven with high energy efficiency in accordance with the present invention will benefit from the future development of new and more efficient and economic materials for the production of the basic elements that make it up, such as the thermoelectric generator and the battery. This benefit allows producing the electric oven with high efficiency having performance more and more interesting and improved over time.

Claims

1 Electric oven (10) comprising:

- a housing compartment (13) of a product (100);

- heating means (15) of said housing compartment (13) of said product (100);

characterized in that it comprises an energy conversion device (17) configured to be thermally isolated from a portion of a wall of said housing compartment (13), so as to keep the heat inside of said housing compartment (13) in a first operating configuration for heating of said product (100), said energy conversion device (17) being configured to convert the residual heat within said housing compartment (13) into electrical energy in a second operating configuration for energy recovery of said electric oven (10).

2 Electric oven (10) according to claim 1 , comprising a battery (18) and/or capacitor, and wherein said energy conversion device (17) is connected to said battery (18) and/or capacitor to store electrical energy at least in said second operating configuration for energy recovery of said electric oven (10).

3 Electric oven (10) according to claim 2, wherein said battery (1 8) is of the rechargeable type and is configured to power at least one electronic control circuit (12a) of said electric oven and/or cooling means (16) of said electronic circuit (12a) and/or lighting means (19), inside said housing compartment (13), preferably in said first operating configuration of said oven (10).

4 Electric oven (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 2-3, wherein said battery (18) is configured to power said energy conversion device (17), preferably in said first operating configuration of said electric oven (10).

5 Electric oven (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said energy conversion device (17) comprises a first portion made of a thermally insulating material, or on which is applied a thermally insulating material.

6 Electric oven (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said energy conversion device (17) comprises a thermoelectric generator

(17a) and wherein in said second operating configuration for energy recovery of said electric oven (10), said thermoelectric generator (17a) has a hot side (17b) arranged to receive a flow of heat from said housing compartment (13), preferably in contact with a portion of a wall of said housing compartment (13).

7 Electric oven (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said energy conversion device (17) comprises a thermoelectric generator (17a) suitable to operate up to a maximum temperature within said housing compartment (13) of the oven electrical (10) of approximately

550°C, preferably at a maximum temperature of about 300°C.

8 Electric oven (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said energy conversion device (17) comprises a thermoelectric generator (17a) suitable to operate with a temperature difference between a hot side

(17b) and a cold side (17c) of said thermoelectric generator (17a) of about 150°C, preferably with a maximum temperature difference of about 100°C.

9 Electric oven (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said energy conversion device (17) comprises a thermoelectric generator (17a) made of a thermoelectric material selected from Bi2Te3, Sb2Te3, PbTe, Zn₄Sb3, CoSba, CeFe4Sbi2 and PbTeSe.

10 Electric oven (10) according to claim 9, wherein said energy conversion device (17) comprises a second portion configured to operate as a thermoelectric generator, or on which it is mounted a thermoelectric generator (17a).

1 1 Electric oven (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said heating means (15) comprise a plurality of resistive heating elements (15a) and a heater/steam generator, and configured to generate heat in said housing compartment (13) of said electric oven (10).

12 Electric oven (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said heating means (15) comprise a plurality of resistive heating elements (15a) and a microwave heater, and configured to generate heat in said housing compartment (13) of said electric oven (10).

13 Electric oven according to claim 12 when dependent from one or more of claims 2-4, wherein said rechargeable battery (18) is configured to power said microwave heater, preferably in said first operating configuration of said electric oven (10).

14 Electric oven (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an electronic transmitter/receiver circuit suitable to manage a radio signal for the exchange of information with a home automation control system connected to the Internet. 15 Electric oven (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an electric circuit and specific devices configured to allow a pyrolytic cleaning of said electric oven (10).

16 Electric oven (10) according to claim 15, wherein said energy conversion device (17) is configured to absorb the residual heat within said housing compartment (13) and to convert it into electrical energy in an operating configuration for the pyrolytic cleaning of said electric oven (10), preferably in an operating configuration for the cooling of said electric oven (10) following said pyrolytic cleaning.

17 Electric oven (10) according to claim 1 , wherein said energy conversion device (17) comprises a thermo-photovoltaic generator configured to absorb thermal energy localized in the walls (14) and/or in the housing compartment (13) of the electric oven (10).

18 Electric oven (10) according to claim 17, wherein said thermo- photovoltaic generator comprises at least one generation cell adapted to convert a thermal energy present or dispersed in the housing compartment (13) and/or in the walls (14) into an electrical energy in a second operating configuration for energy recovery from the electric oven (10) itself, the energy conversion device (17) preferably comprising a plurality of conversion cells placed on the walls (14) defining the housing compartment (13) itself.

19 Electric oven (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 17-18, wherein the energy conversion device (17) further comprises at least one converter element operatively associated with at least one generation cell and configured to absorb thermal energy from the compartment housing

(13) and/or from the walls (14), and to send it to said at least one generation cell, said at least one converter element being made of a radiant material adapted to absorb thermal energy dispersed in the housing compartment (13) and/or in the walls (14) in an almost independent manner from possible waveforms of the thermal energy itself, and adapted to emit a radiation/waveform having a spectrum of wavelengths and/or frequencies according to an absorption capacity of said radiation/waveform by at least one generation cell.

20 Electric oven (10) according to claim 19, wherein said at least one converter element is interposed between the housing compartment (13) and at least one generation cell, and is preferably shaped as a plate-like body disposed on at least one wall (14) of the housing compartment (13).

21 Electric oven according to claim 20, wherein the energy conversion device (17) comprises waveguide means adapted to convey the radiation/waveform emitted by at least one converter element towards at least one generation cell.

22 Electric oven (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims 17- 22, wherein said thermo-photovoltaic generator is made from materials selected from tungsten nano-polymers or materials based on gallium compounds or materials based on rare-earth oxides.