WO2022184432A1

WO2022184432A1 - Domestic steam cooking appliance and method for discharging vapor

Info

Publication number: WO2022184432A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/053740
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus Helminger; Philipp Kleinlein; Christian Clauss; Ludovic Ball; Rolf Sauerbier
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2021-03-01
Filing date: 2022-02-16
Publication date: 2022-09-09
Also published as: DE102021201952A1; CN116997750A

Abstract

The invention relates to a domestic steam cooking appliance (1) having a steam treatment chamber (2, 3) with a steam inlet (4) and a vapor outlet (5); a steamer (6) with a water inlet (7) and a steam outlet (8), said steam outlet (8) being connected to the steam inlet (4) of the steam treatment chamber (2, 3); and a water tank (10) with a water outlet (11), said water outlet (11) being connected to the water inlet (7) of the steamer (6), wherein the water tank (10; 23) has a gas outlet (13) and a vapor inlet (12), said vapor inlet (12; 25) being connected to the vapor outlet (5) of the steam treatment chamber (2, 3). A method is used to discharge vapor (W) out of a steam treatment chamber (2, 3) of a domestic steam cooking appliance (1; 24). The invention can be advantageously used in particular on domestic steam cooking appliances in the form of steam cooking drawers.

Description

Household steamer and method for discharging fumes

The invention relates to a household steam cooking appliance, having a steam treatment chamber with a steam inlet and a vapor outlet, an evaporator with a water inlet and a steam outlet, which steam outlet is connected to the steam inlet of the steam treatment chamber, and a water tank with a water outlet, which water outlet is connected to the water inlet of the evaporator is connected. The invention also relates to a method for discharging vapors from a steam treatment chamber of a household steam cooking appliance, in which water is conducted from a water tank into an evaporator, the water is heated to steam in the evaporator and the steam is guided from the evaporator into the steam treatment chamber becomes. The invention can be applied particularly advantageously to domestic steam cooking appliances in the form of steam cooking drawers.

Household steam cooking appliances are known that have a steam treatment chamber with a steam inlet and a vapor outlet, an evaporator with a water inlet and a steam outlet, which steam outlet is connected to the steam inlet of the steam treatment chamber, and a water tank with a water outlet, which water outlet is connected to the water inlet of the Evaporator is connected, have. The vapor produced during a steam cooking process is discharged through the vapor outlet into the surroundings of the household steam cooking appliance, possibly via a filter.

Vapor outlets are not common in horizontally extendable steam treatment drawers. Rather, it is known that the vapor condenses in the steam treatment room and collects at the bottom. This is disadvantageous because it either reduces the volume of the steam treatment chamber provided for steam treatment or the food to be cooked lies in the condensate. It can also happen that the steam escapes, at least partially uncontrolled, through gaps between a damper pan accommodating the food to be cooked and a lid, which then disadvantageously gets into the vicinity of the steam treatment drawer, eg into a kitchen. This can also lead to a noticeable build-up of odors outside the steam treatment drawer. Once the cooking process is complete, the user opens the lid to remove the food. As a result, the steam that is still in the steam treatment room can escape uncontrolled as a surge, which is uncomfortable for the user or can even lead to skin irritations.

It is the object of the present invention to at least partially overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and in particular to provide an improved possibility of discharging vapors produced during a steam treatment process in a particularly safe and user-friendly manner.

This object is solved according to the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments can be found in particular in the dependent claims.

The object is achieved by a household steamer having

- a steam treatment room with a steam inlet and a vapor outlet,

- an evaporator with a water inlet and a steam outlet, which steam outlet is connected to the steam inlet of the steam treatment room, and

- a water tank with a water outlet, which water outlet is connected to the water inlet of the evaporator,

- Wherein the water tank has a gas outlet and a vapor inlet, which vapor inlet is connected to the vapor outlet of the steam treatment room.

This household steamer has the advantage that vapors are not discharged directly into the environment of the household steamer as in a kitchen, but are first passed through the water tank. The water tank serves as a condenser, since the vapor is cooled in it and at least partially condenses out. In this way, in turn, the advantage is achieved that the gas (e.g. air and/or steam) exiting the water tank is noticeably cooler than the vapor entering, whereby, for example, the thermal and chemical stresses on parts wetted by it are reduced. This reduced outlet temperature is particularly advantageous if the steam treatment process is carried out with so-called super heated steam (also referred to as SHS, "Super Heated Steam").

A further advantage is that the gas escaping from the water tank carries a smaller amount of water than the vapors escaping from the steam treatment room and, moreover, the smell of the escaping gas is noticeable compared to the vapors. slightly reduced. In addition, the gas is not released into the environment in an uncontrolled manner.

This results in the further advantage that the water that has condensed out in the water tank collects in the water tank and can be fed back to the evaporator or reused. This in turn reduces water consumption.

Because the vapor entering the water tank emits heat to the water tank, the water located therein is also advantageously heated, so that the evaporator needs to apply less energy in order to subsequently evaporate the water. There is also an energy saving effect through heat recovery.

The inlets and/or outlets can be in the form of one or more holes and/or one or more tubes. In particular, they open inlets and / or outlets in the associated component. A connection between an outlet and an inlet can be made by at least one pipe, at least one hose or also directly. In the case of a direct connection, the associated outlet and inlet can be connected to one another without a connecting element, for example placed one on top of the other. In one development, the water tank can be a removable water tank that can be placed directly on the evaporator.

The evaporator can be filled or refilled with water through the connection between the water outlet of the water tank and the water inlet of the evaporator. The filling or refilling can be carried out in a targeted manner, for example by selectively opening and closing a valve, activating and deactivating a pump, etc.

The steam treatment space, the evaporator and/or the water tank can be components of the domestic steam cooking appliance that can be removed by the user.

The evaporator can also be operated in a controlled manner by selectively activating and deactivating at least one heating element, for example in order to adjust the amount of steam released into the steam treatment chamber in a targeted manner. The evaporator thus corresponds to a steam generation unit. In this sense, the water tank, the Valve and the steam generating unit can also be considered as components of a broader vaporizer.

In one development, the at least one heating element is an electrically operated heating element. It is a particularly advantageous development for removing the evaporator that the heating element can be heated, for example, by externally supplied thermal radiation and/or contact heat or induction. In this case, the heating element is not operated directly electrically. It is an advantageous further development in the case of heating by thermal radiation and/or contact heat that it is (indirectly) heated by a heating unit permanently installed in the steam treatment drawer, such as a resistance heater. In a further development, in the case of inductive heating, at least one induction coil is permanently installed in the steam treatment drawer.

The outlet of the steam treatment room, referred to without loss of generality as the "vapour outlet", serves to let out the atmosphere present in the steam treatment room. During a steam cooking process, this atmosphere is or often includes so-called vapors, i.e. hot air or steam to which cooking products such as fat and/or aromatic substances released from the food to be cooked are mixed. However, the atmosphere can also correspond practically only to steam or hot air.

In one embodiment, the vapor inlet leads into an area of the water tank that is normally filled with gas. In this way, the advantage of particularly easy cleaning of the water tank is achieved. The vapor inlet therefore ends in a space in the water tank that is normally filled with gas (e.g. air) and not with water. The gas outlet also leads or opens into an area of the water tank that is normally filled with gas, advantageously at a large distance from the vapor inlet, in order to provide a long cooling section for the vapor.

A "normally" gas-filled area of the water tank is understood to be that area which is above the water when the water tank is normally or properly filled with water, eg an area above the maximum filling level. In one embodiment, the vapor inlet leads or drains into an area of the water tank that is normally filled with water. This has the advantage that the vapor can transfer its heat to the water particularly effectively. Another advantage is that odors are bound particularly effectively by the water. A further advantage is that the water in the water tank creates a certain resistance or back pressure against the vapor escaping from the steam treatment chamber, which in turn advantageously supports the steam treatment process. Also, such steam consumption or noticeable deterioration in steam treatment efficiency can be reduced.

A “normally” water-filled area of the water tank is understood to mean, in particular, that spatial area which is filled with water when the water tank is normally or properly filled, e.g. a spatial area below a minimum filling level.

The water in the water tank can, for example, be filled in by a user or automatically via a fresh water connection. The filled water is especially fresh water.

In one embodiment, the household steam cooking appliance has at least one thermally highly conductive heat exchange element, which is partially located in the normally gas-filled area and partially in the normally water-filled area. As a result, the effectiveness of the heat transfer in the water tank is advantageously increased, in particular if the vapor inlet leads or opens into the normally gas-filled space. Due to the thermally good connection between the comparatively cold water and the part of the heat exchange element that is normally in the gas-filled area, this part is cooled particularly effectively, so that a particularly strong condensation of the vapor can be achieved on it. For example, the heat exchange element may be made of metal, such as stainless steel. The heat exchange element can, for example, be applied to an inside of the wall of the water tank or embedded therein.

It is an embodiment that the heat exchange element in the area normally filled with gas and/or in the area normally filled with water generates a heat has exchanger structure, eg ribs, fins, etc. This further increases the effectiveness of the heat exchange.

In one embodiment, the domestic steam cooking appliance is designed as a steam cooking drawer that can be pulled out horizontally and in which the steam treatment space, the evaporator and the water tank can be accommodated. This provides a particularly compact option for steam treatment that is independent of other cooking appliances.

In a further development, the domestic cooking appliance has at least one other functional unit for treating food, with its own cooking chamber separate from the steamer drawer, e.g. an oven, in addition to the at least one steamer drawer. For example, the oven may be an oven, a microwave oven, or a combination thereof. This can also be referred to as a "multi-cavity" cooking appliance.

It is a further development that the steam cooking drawer is arranged below the further functional unit handling the food, in particular the oven, since particularly good accessibility and simple handling of the steam cooking drawer is advantageously achieved in this way.

In one embodiment, the steam treatment chamber has a damper pan that can be replaced from above in the steam cooking drawer and has a loading opening on the top for inserting and removing food to be cooked, which loading opening can be closed by means of a cover.

In one configuration, the steam inlet and the vapor outlet are formed in the damper pan. This advantageously allows a particularly simple and flat design of the cover.

In one configuration, the steam inlet and the vapor outlet are formed in the cover. This advantageously enables a particularly simple design of the damper pan. In one configuration, an SHS generator is connected between the evaporator and the steam treatment chamber and is set up to further heat the (wet) steam supplied to it by the evaporator into superheated steam.

In one configuration, a temperature sensor and/or a humidity sensor is arranged at the vapor outlet of the steam treatment room and/or at the gas outlet of the water tank, which sensor is set up to measure a temperature or a humidity content of the escaping vapor. This achieves the advantage that steam still escaping at the gas outlet of the water tank can be reduced. For this purpose, the temperature and/or the humidity sensor can be connected to a controller (e.g. measuring and control electronics), which also controls the evaporator. If, for example, it is measured that the vapor temperature and/or moisture content is too high and the gas discharged from the water tank therefore has too high a vapor content (which can be correlated, for example, by corresponding characteristic curves or tables), the controller can reduce vapor production.

The object is also achieved by a method for discharging vapors from a steam treatment chamber of a household steam cooking appliance, in which water is conducted from a water tank into an evaporator, the water is heated to steam in the evaporator, and the steam from the evaporator is fed into the steam treatment chamber is guided, fumes from the steam treatment room are fed into the water tank, the fumes are condensed in the water tank, and the remaining gas is discharged from the water tank.

In the method, water is in particular conducted from the water tank into the evaporator and can be brought to the boil in the evaporator. The resulting steam is - passed into the Dampfbe treatment room - with or without further heating to superheated steam. The steam can be used to treat goods located in the steam treatment chamber, in particular food to be cooked. The resulting vapor is returned from the steam treatment room to the water tank, where it is cooled by the water in it. As a result of the cooling, at least part of the vapor condenses out as condensate, transfers heat to the water and leaves Bind odorous substances through the water. The gas then still in the water tank (e.g. vapor residues, etc.) is then discharged.

The method can be designed analogously to the household steam cooking appliance and has the same advantages.

For example, the vapors from the steam treatment room can be guided into the area normally filled with gas or in the area of the water tank normally filled with water.

The properties, features and advantages of this invention described above, and the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more clearly understood in connection with the following schematic description of an exemplary embodiment, which will be explained in more detail in connection with the drawings.

1 shows an outline of a steam treatment drawer according to a first embodiment; and

2 shows a water tank of a steam treatment drawer according to a second embodiment.

Fig.1 shows a household steamer in the form of a horizontally extendable steam treatment drawer 1, which can represent part of a multi-cavity cooking appliance. An optionally removable steam treatment chamber 2, 3 is accommodated in the steam treatment drawer 1, which is formed from a steamer trough 2 with a loading opening on the upper side and a cover 3 covering the loading opening. A steam inlet 4 and a vapor outlet 5 are located in the cover 3. Alternatively, the steam inlet 4 and/or the vapor outlet 5 can be formed in the damper pan 2.

The steam treatment drawer 1 also has an optionally removable evaporator 6 with a water inlet 7 and a steam outlet 8. The steam outlet 8 can be connected to the steam inlet 4 directly or, as shown, via a connecting line 9 (e.g. a pipe or hose), so that generated in the evaporator 6 Steam D is guided into the steam treatment chamber 2, 3 in order to treat the food to be cooked there (o. Fig.).

The steam treatment drawer 1 also has an optionally removable water tank 10 with a water outlet 11 , a vapor inlet 12 and a gas outlet 13 . The water outlet 11 can be connected to the water inlet 7 directly or, as shown, via a connecting line 14 (e.g. a pipe or hose). The connection between the water outlet 11 and the water inlet 7 can be shut off by a valve 15 in order to convey (fresh) water F in a targeted manner from the water tank 10 into the evaporator 6 . To this end, the valve 15 can be connected to a correspondingly set up control device 16 . As an alternative or in addition to the valve 15, the water F can be conveyed by means of a pump (not shown).

The vapor outlet 5 of the steam treatment room 2, 3 is connected to the vapor inlet 12 of the water tank 10 directly or, as shown, via a connecting line 17 (e.g. a pipe or hose). The vapor inlet 12 opens here in a normally gas-filled area 18 of the water tank 10, advantageously far away from the gas outlet 13, which also opens into the gas-filled area 18 Vapor inlet 12 out in the normally gas-filled space 18 of the water tank 10.

In the water tank 10 there is at least one thermally highly conductive Wärmeaus exchange element 19, which is partially in the normally gas-filled area 18 and partially in a normally water-filled area 20. In particular, it extends upwards from a bottom of the water tank 10 on a side wall. The heat exchange element 19 can have a heat exchanger structure (not shown) in the normally gas-filled area and/or in the normally water-filled area 20 .

The vapor W flowing in through the vapor inlet 12 is cooled due to the water F contained therein, supported by the heat exchange element 19 . As a result of the cooling, at least part of the vapor W condenses out as condensate, transfers heat to the water F and lets odorous substances through the water F bind ok. The drier and cooler gas that is then still in the water tank 10 is then discharged in a targeted manner through the gas outlet 13 and optionally through an outlet line 21 .

The control device 16 can also be set up to control the operation of the evaporator 6 . In particular, it can control the operation of the evaporator 6 taking into account measured values from a temperature sensor 22 , which temperature sensor 22 is arranged in or in the vicinity of the vapor outlet 5 . This is because the temperature of the vapor W can be used as an indicator of how large a proportion of vapor or vapor is still in the gas G emerging through the gas outlet 13 . For example, by reducing the amount of steam generated by the evaporator 6, the steam or vapor content in the exiting gas G can be reduced accordingly.

2 shows a water tank 23 of a further steam treatment drawer 24. The steam treatment drawer 24 can be designed analogously to the steam treatment drawer 1. It differs from the steam treatment drawer 1 in that the vapor inlet 25 now leads into the area 20 of the water tank 23 that is normally filled with water. As a result, a cooling effect and a smell binding are advantageously increased. There is also the advantage that there is a certain resistance to the vapor W escaping from the steam treatment chamber 2 , 3 , which improves steam treatment and reduces the energy and water consumption of the steam treatment drawer 24 .

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the game shown Ausführungsbei.

An SHS generator can thus also be present between the evaporator 6 and the steam treatment chamber.

In general, "a", "an" etc. can be understood as a singular or a plural number, in particular in the sense of "at least one" or "one or more" etc., as long as this is not explicitly excluded, for example by the expression " exactly one" etc. A numerical specification can also include exactly the specified number as well as a customary tolerance range, as long as this is not explicitly excluded.

Reference List

1 steam treatment drawer

2 damper pan

3 lids

4 steam inlet

5 vapor outlet

6 evaporators

7 water inlet

8 steam outlet

9 connection line

10 water tank

11 water outlet

12 vapor inlet

13 gas outlet

14 connection line

15 valve

16 controller

17 connection line

18 Normally gas-filled space of the water tank

19 heat exchange element

20 Normally water-filled space of the water tank

21 outlet line

22 temperature sensor

23 water tank

24 steam treatment drawer

25 vapor inlet

D steam

F water

G gas

W vapors

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Household steamer (1; 24), having

- a steam treatment room (2, 3) with a steam inlet (4) and a vapor outlet (5),

- An evaporator (6) with a water inlet (7) and a steam outlet (8), which steam outlet (8) is connected to the steam inlet (4) of the steam treatment space (2, 3), and

- A water tank (10; 23) with a water outlet (11), which water outlet (11) is connected to the water inlet (7) of the evaporator (6), wherein

- The water tank (10; 23) has a gas outlet (13) and a vapor inlet (12; 25), which vapor inlet (12; 25) is connected to the vapor outlet (5) of the steam treatment chamber (2, 3).

2. Household steam cooking appliance (1) according to claim 1, wherein the vapor inlet (12) leads into a normally gas-filled area (18) of the water tank (10).

3. Household steam cooking appliance (24) according to claim 1, wherein the vapor inlet (25) leads into a normally water-filled area (20) of the water tank (23).

4. Household steam cooking appliance (1; 24) according to one of the preceding claims, where in the household steam cooking appliance (1; 24) has at least one thermally highly conductive heat exchange element (19) which is partially in the normally gas-filled area (18) and partially in the normally water-filled Be rich (20) of the water tank (10; 24) is located.

5. household steam cooking appliance (1; 24) according to claim 4, wherein the Wärmeaus exchange element (19) at least in the normally gas-filled area (18) has a heat exchanger structure.

6. household steamer (1; 24) according to any one of the preceding claims, where in the household steamer (1; 24) as a horizontally extendable steamer Drawer is formed, in which the steam treatment chamber (2, 3), the Ver evaporator (6) and the water tank (10; 23) can be accommodated.

7. Household steam cooking appliance (1; 24) according to claim 6, wherein the steam treatment chamber (2, 3) has a damper pan (2) which can be replaced from above into the steam cooking drawer and has a loading opening on the top, which loading opening can be closed by means of a cover (3). .

8. Household steam cooking appliance (1; 24) according to claim 7, wherein the steam inlet (4) and the vapor outlet (5) are formed in the damper pan (2).

9. Household steam cooking appliance (1; 24) according to claim 7, wherein the steam inlet (4) and the vapor outlet (5) are formed in the cover (3).

10. Household steam cooking appliance (1; 24) according to one of the preceding claims, where an SHS generator is interposed in the evaporator (6) and the steam treatment chamber (2, 3).

11. A method for discharging vapors (W) from a steam treatment chamber (2, 3) of a domestic steam cooking appliance (1; 24), in which

- Water (F) is conducted from a water tank (10; 23) into an evaporator (6),

- the water (F) is heated to steam (D) in the evaporator (6),

- the steam (D) from the evaporator (6) into the steam treatment chamber (2, 3) is conducted,

- Vapors (W) from the steam treatment room (2, 3) are fed into the water tank (10; 23),

- The vapor (W) in the water tank (10; 23) is condensed and

- Gas (G) is discharged from the water tank (10; 23).