Patent Application
20200116393
The present disclosure relates to solar cooking field, especially related to multifunction solar cooking unit/appliance and its inventive components. The unit can be assembled as portable and family styles solar cooking appliance to be used both indoor and outdoor.
Since 2015, the world has entered into a new energy era. Solar energy will be the key energy in the future for all kinds of human energy consuming activities. Food (including coffee and tea) cooking is the most ancient and arguably, the most important energy consumption activity. Solar cooking is to complete all kinds of cooking processing by solar heat directly absorbed from sunlight. Solar cooking should be the daily activities of billions of people in the near future. Solar cooking development faces a serious of critical challenges. They are as follows: the uncertainty of weather how to meet the requirement of three time cooking every day; the low density of solar energy how to meet the fast and continued cooking requirement; long period of preheating in water may cause the deterioration and sour of the food immersed; outdoor sunlight—how to meet the indoor cooking requirement; sky sunlight how to make bottom heating; large size solar heat collector—how to fit smaller available space; roof sunlight vs. cooking on ground; the safety concern of the transparent glass used; heat insulation requirement; cost effective required from more populations; high efficiency for solar and other energies; to switch cooking energy between solar energy and second energies (e.g. electricity) flexibly and automatically; how to turn on/off and control the solar heat supply as did by traditional cooking appliances and how can make no significant changes to the traditional cooking habit and custom. To solve these challenges, we have developed a series of technologies and solar cooking appliances in last ten years. Some of them are disclosed in Canadian applications under the numbers of 2,672,760, 2,673,703 and 2,673,702 on Jul. 23, 2009. The applications also entered into many countries worldwide through PCT. After the last disclosures, a lot of further studies have done, many experiences have been gained. This disclosure reflects our continued efforts to solve the technical challenges mentioned above and others.
This disclosure provides a solar cooking unit/appliance that integrates following inventive features and components for further responding the challenges mentioned above and others. The challenges are as follows: an assembled fluid channel having one way liquid communication feature and two way gas communication feature; a modular solar thermal unit with one or two sunlight reflector(s) shaped as circular arc (e.g. semi-pipes) having all reflecting focuses in solar heat collector; a modular multi-function cover; a modular and separable heat conducting and storage material; a solar cooking unit for second kind of heating source; an electric heater, especially an induction cooking heater; a solar heat collector able to track sunlight in a limited and fixed area; a disposable utensil; a solar cooking appliance for indoor user; a 360 degree rotatable sunlight reflector; a sunlight reflector for turn on/off and control solar heat supply; at least two of chambers and utensils for automatically transferring between solar and supplementary energy heaters. The above features and components can also be used in different kinds of solar cooking appliances, solar thermal device and appliances with second energy selectively and respectively. Until today, at least some of the challenge mentioned above has at least one solution developed and disclosed through our prior patent applications including this application. The solar cooking appliances used these solutions can complete all kinds of traditional cooking processes by absorbing solar heat directly from sunlight. The solar cooking appliance can be safer, cost effective, user friendly, high cooking temperature, high energy efficiency, continued heat supply, easy to manufacture and use. They also can be used by indoor or outdoor user. Solar cooking does not generate greenhouse emission. It also does not generate harmful gas in a room or introduce harmful material into foods, as BBQ grills are prone to do. Solar cooking usually uses a temperature under 200 degrees Celsius to cook food, there is no concern of open fire. Solar cooking appliances can generate hot water, beverages and foods automatically without control device. Now chefs and diners can stay indoor to cook and eat solar cooked foods. There is no barrier for solar cooking to become popular energy consumption activities by billions of people in the near future.
This disclosure provides a solar cooking unit comprises: a modular solar thermal unit comprising: at least one solar heat collector for collecting solar heat. A chamber for receiving a utensil (also called cookware) and thermally connected said solar heat collector to receive and transfer said solar heat to said utensil for cooking. A multi-functional cover covered said utensil. The solar cooking unit can be used indirectly and directly for cooking. It also can be used to form solar cooking appliances. One of the examples is to provide a portable solar cooking appliance with one or two solar heat collectors.
The portable solar cooking appliance comprises: a modular solar thermal unit comprising: at least one solar heat collector for collecting solar heat. A chamber of solar heat collector for receiving a utensil (also called cookware) and thermally connected said solar heat collector to receive and transfer said solar heat to said utensil for cooking. Here modular solar thermal unit is provided for the purpose of safety, high efficiency and cost effectiveness. The modular solar thermal unit comprises: first evacuated tube solar heat collector with first sunlight reflector; second evacuated tube solar heat collector with second sunlight reflector; the cross sections of first and second sunlight reflectors are shaped as circular arcs respectively; and reflecting focuses of said circular arcs are located in said first solar heat collector and second solar heat collectors respectively. The focuses are at the ½ radius (R) of the circular arcs. When we arrange the solar heat collector at the center of the circular arc and the central line of said evacuated tube to locate in or approximately in the location of the half radius (½ R) of circular arc section, it is very easy to make sure every focuses can be arranged in the solar heat collectors. A connecting part connected two said reflectors; and said connected two reflectors not only being able to be opened for said two collectors to absorb solar heat, but also able to be closed for said first and second sunlight reflectors to form a complete pipe for said first and second solar heat collectors to locate in. Here the combined pipe can be a round pipe or an allotype pipe. Here the allotype pipe means a pipe combined by two reflectors with circular arc cross section. This means the reflector may be half pipe, ⅓ pipe or ¼ pipe etc. In both kinds of the pipes, the focuses of the reflected light are located in the inner space of said solar heat collector. For example when the combined pipe is a round pipe, we can arrange the central line of said evacuated tube to locate in or approximately in the location of the half radius (½ R) of said pipe. Here R is the radius of the round pipe. When said reflector is allotype /shaped pipe, we also can arrange the central line of said evacuated tube to locate in or approximately in the location of the half radius (½ R) of circular arc section of the reflector. Here R is the radius of the circular arc. Therefore all the focuses of reflected lights from said reflectors are located within the inner space of said evacuated tube. The evacuated tube can be a single tube, a plurality of tubes or a tube of modular solar heat collector. The tube may also have a plastic cover or it is a toughened-glass tube. The modular solar thermal unit also can be a plurality of said thermal unit to form a panel of a solar heat collector; wherein said panel having a mechanism to rotate the panel around the central vertical axis.
The modular solar thermal unit not only can be used in solar cooking unit. It also can be used independently to form other solar thermal devices such as a solar hot water system or solar space heating system. The solar hot water device further comprise a plurality of said thermal units, manifold/convergent pipe, a heat transfer liquid, insulation and supporting flame. A solar space heating device further comprises an electric power source, a fan and an air channel.
A solar cooking unit comprises: a solar thermal unit comprising: at least one solar heat collector for collecting solar heat; a chamber for receiving a utensil and thermally connected said solar heat collector to receive and transfer said solar heat to said utensil for cooking; a functional cover covered said utensil; and the cross section of said reflector having a shape of circular arc, and reflecting focuses of said circular arc located in said solar heat collector.
Another solar coking appliance for indoor user is provided. The appliance comprises: a solar heat collector for collecting and storing solar heat, having its main part arranged in outdoor for solar heat collecting and storing. An open end of said solar heat collector is opened indoor directly. A solar cooking utensil arranged in said solar heat collector for cooking. The utensil can be put into and took out from said solar heat collector within indoor space; a sunlight reflector able to rotate in 360 degree around the axis of said solar heat collector. A controller controls the movement of the reflector. The controller is able to be operated indoor. The solar cooking appliance according to above description may further selectively comprise one or more of following: an indoor monitor for monitoring said main part of said solar cooking appliance; a multi-functional cover as mentioned before; a heat conducting material and a heat conducting and storage material which are transferrable each other; a supplymentary energy heater heater or cooking appliance; a control motor, a sunlight tracking software, a fluid tube for fluid communication and a second utensil arranged outside of the solar heat collector. The details of above mentioned components are described in other part, especially in
An outdoor solar cooing appliance is provided. The appliance comprises: a solar thermal unit comprising a solar heat collector for collecting and storing solar heat. A chamber receives a solar cooking utensil for food cooking. A multi-functional cover covers said utensil and may also the chamber. A reflector focuses and reflects sunlight to the solar heat collector. A stent interconnects and supports the elements of the appliance. The stent comprises a receiving structure to receive and detach kitchen supplies.
Following components or elements can be used in above mentioned solar cooking appliance. A supplymentary energy heater is an important part of a solar cooking appliance because the uncertainty of weather. Solar cooking appliance needs and can combine with any other energy heater or cooking appliance to form a multi-energy solar cooking appliance/range. For example, the supplementary energy heater can be any one of, gas heater, oil heater, coal heater and biomass heater. An ideal solar cooking appliance can integrate a supplymentary energy heater and switch between two energy heaters flexibly and freely. We also disclosed built-in supplementary energy heater in the solar cooking range/stove. The solar cooking range/stove is structured same as the existing range popularly used in market to meet cooking habit and custom of the kitchen workers.
The solar cooking appliance/range comprises: a solar thermal unit comprising: at least one solar heat collector for collecting solar heat; a chamber for receiving a utensil and thermally connected said solar heat collector to receive and transfer said solar heat to said utensil for cooking; a multi-functional cover covered said utensil; and said solar thermal unit further comprising a supplementary energy heater; and wherein said chamber having first open end to receive said utensil and second end located on top of a predefined heating zone of a supplementary energy heater; and a heat insulation separator isolated said chamber from said supplementary energy heater. Here the heat separator can be ceramic glass, ceramic glass with a heat insulator or a heat conducting material with a removable heat insulation. The appliance may further comprise one or more of a fan, a heat conducting and storage material and a control panel. To transfer the cooking heat source between two energies faster and easier, the chamber may have at least two chambers with different sizes; said utensil having at least two utensils to fit the shape and size of said chambers respectively. Here the second energy can be any energy except solar energy, such as electricity, oil, gas, coal and biomass. The fan is to remove smoke and/or control temperature of said supplementary energy heater. The control panel is for measuring, indicating and/or controlling the solar thermal unit and/or supplementary energy heater. The separator can be a heat conductor (e.g. a metal plate) with removable heat insulation, or a heat insulated and non-ferromagnetic material (e.g. ceramic glass). The separator not only protects the solar heat loss through supplementary energy heater, but also reduces the heat loss from supplementary energy heater to the heat conducting and storage material through the wall of chamber.
The solar cooking unit/appliance/range mentioned above may be integrated with one or more innovative components and features selected from following. The components are introduced and explained below. The purposes of the new features are also provided.
A pair of utensils with a flexible and assembled fluid channel is disclosed. The purposes of the fluid channel is as following: to allow one single solar cooking appliance for all kinds of cooking processing; to separate the ready beverage and boiled water from cold or warm water automatically without automatic device; to allow the dry food be separated from water until the water is boiled and cooking processing is automatically started. The last purpose is required, because due to the uncertainty of the weather and the relatively longer solar cooking processing, the food submerged in the water may become sour or deteriorated. The solar cooking appliance according to above mentioned solar cooking unit/appliance wherein said solar cooking utensil comprises: first utensil and second utensil; a flexible and assembled fluid channel removably and selectively connects said first utensil and second utensil for fluid communication; and said fluid channel having a feature to communicate liquid in one way and to communicate gas in two ways. One of the selective structures of the feature is a small hole on the channel and above the highest water lever in the second utensil. Here all kinds of cooking processing means food boiling, stewing, steaming, roasting, frying and making coffee, tea and boiled water.
As mentioned before, we always can cook the food and beverages in the first utensil directly. The difference between this kind of cooking and the direct cooking in the first utensil is as following: This kind of cooking can separate the dry and cool foods/beverages and water in two utensils. The real cooking processing is started only when the water is boiled in first utensil and is transferred into second utensil. At the boiling water preparing stage, the food is kept dry and cold. By controlling the water in first utensil and the length of tube in the first utensil, we can control and always only get necessary water for cooking. We also can control the cooking processing automatically without a control system and without over cooking of foods and beverages. The beverage in second utensil is always ready to drink.
In our solar cooking appliance, the chamber means a space defined by a wall for transferring received solar heat to said utensil for food cooking. The utensil is fully or partially located in the chamber. Usually the chamber is a space defined by a heat conducting wall and connected with a heat conducting and storage material, said chamber thermally connected to a solar heat collector. The examples of the chamber are as follows: an inner space defined by inner layer of an evacuated tube solar heat collector; a space within the solar heat conducting and storage material in a flat or camber plate solar heat collector; a space located in the heat storage and conducting material in a heat insulated compartment and thermally (indirectly) connect to the solar heat collector. The wall usually made of a heat conducting material (e.g. metal) and glass. If an induction heater is used, the wall material can be non-ferromagnetic material. (e.g. copper or aluminum). For a solar cooking unit with a supplementary energy heater, the chamber is located above the designed heating zone of the second heater and separated from the second heater by a ceramic glass or a heat conducting (e.g. metal) plate with a removable heat insulation. When the supplementary energy heater is an induction heater or an infrared heater, the separator can be a ceramic glass.
The induction heater is a preferred heater in a multi-energy solar cooking appliance. The reason is that the electric heat can heat the utensil only. At least two chambers with different sizes and two different size utensils to fit the size of chambers respectively. This special arrangement allows the utensils to receive the solar heat from the chamber wall at solar cooking style. At the induction heater cooking style, we can insert the smaller size utensil to the larger size chamber. An air gap will be formed between the wall and utensil for heat insulation. Therefore the heat from the induction heat can be used for food cooking only. The separator and second heater can also be an integrated ceramic glass with an electric-heat coating on the back. In this case, the coating connects to a power supply. When the electric current passes through the ceramic glass, the electric energy is converted to heat directly for cooking. When this kind of coating electric heater is arranged between the solar cooking chamber and the oven of said solar cooking utensil, it cooks the foods in both the chamber and in oven. A heat insulation plate selectively covers one of two sides of the heater. The heater also can be designed as removable from the appliance for repairing or replacing.
A multi-functional cover is provided for the following added features: A utensil has multi-cooking functions and can cook food and beverage automatically. The cover has a mechanical locking structure to make the utensil as an airtight container. The locking structure also makes the cover as a handle for moving the utensil. For example, it may be a pair of protuberances on the inner surface of the utensil and a pair of notches in the cover. They can be matched and locked to move the utensil. They also can let the cover to be released from utensil.
The cover may have three parts fixed or removably assembled together. The parts cover the inner space of the utensil, the gap between utensil and the wall of chamber and the gap between chamber and the cooktop respectively. The cover may have an electric connector connected to power source and being able to removably receive an electric heater. A perforated fitting is for receiving the assembled fluid channel. The cover not only can be used to cover the utensil, but also can be used for covering the second open end of the solar heat collector, if there is one. The heater in the cover may be selected from a group of a resistant heater, an infrared heater, an induction heater, a light heater, heater, a radiated heater etc. Here it is an immersion electric heater.
Most of solid, liquid and phase change material can be used as heat conducting and storage material, if the material can be heated to the temperature higher than water boiling temperature and do not generating harmful material. More heat conducting and storage materials are provided for above mentioned solar cooking unit and appliance. First a separable and joinable heat conducting and storage material is disclosed to allow the solar cooking appliance to operate in two modes. A first, fast cooking mode concentres all solar energy absorbed in the solar heat collector to the utensil. A second, “cooking and storage” cooking mode allow partial solar energy to be stored for followed and continued cooking. The material comprises a first material (e.g. metal container) mainly for heat conducting, and a second material mainly for heat storage (e.g. sand and salt). Said second material can be received in and removed out from the first material. The second material containing ferromagnetic material and a non-ferromagnetic material are also disclosed to meet the requirements of solar cooking appliance with an induction heater. The second heat conducting material can be selected from pure salt, clear sand, marble or ferromagnetic material (e.g. stainless steel balls). After the food is cooked, the second heat conducting material needs to be removed from the food using a try basket. The steel balls can be removed by a magnetic element
The solar cooking utensil can be a utensil located in the chamber. The utensil also can comprise first utensil located in the chamber and second utensil located outside of the chamber. The second utensil may be heat insulated i.e. the utensil has heat insulation or has two layers evacuated in between. The size of the utensil may be smaller than the largest size of said chambers and a sheet at bottom containing ferromagnetic material. The utensil also may be a set of utensils located in a plurality of the evacuated tubes. The utensil further can be a set of utensils arranged in a set of chambers which located in an enclosed compartment wherein heat conducting material is filed to receive solar heat from the solar heat collector. There are many kinds of utensils that can be selectively used for different cooking purposes. They are as follows: a pan, a boiler, a steamer, a frying pan, roasting pan.
In our prior patents and pagtent pending of solar cooking appliances, we have disclosed many kinds of utensils for solar cooking. For example, they are a pan, a boiler, a steamer, a frying pan, roasting pan. All of them can be used in the solar cooking appliances of this disclosure. The solar cooking appliance may become popular energy consumption for billions of population in the near future. A disposable utensil is disclosed to meet the requirement of preparation, storage and cooking in a large scale and industrial processing for solar cooking. The disposable utensil has a hole to connect the first end of the channel. The hole has a removable and attachable seal. The attached seal can help to make home- made canned foods for solar cooking. The utensil may be made of paper, plastic aluminum and alloy. The utensil may contain ferromagnetic material for induction heater. The utensil can be a box, a cylinder can and a bag. The food can be a beverage/shop, cooked food and fresh food for heating or cooking in the solar cooking appliance.
The solar heat collector can be any kind of solar heat collector able to heat the utensil to the temperature higher than the water boiling temperature. For example, evacuated tube solar heat collector and flat plate solar heat collector are two typical solar heat collectors that can be used.
The evacuated tube solar heat collector has two layers. The first layer is transparent made of transparent glass or plastic. The toughened/tempered glass and ceramic-glass are additionally included in the glass. The second layer can be glass or metal. The evacuated tube can be a single tube, a plurality of tubes or a tube of modular solar heat collector mentioned bellow. Evacuated tube solar heat collectors are selected for solar cooking very often, because they have very good heat insulation feature and a high working temperature. When the evacuated-tube solar heat collector is made of glass, in case the glass tube is broken, the broken glass pieces are dangerous for the user. So the solar heat collector may need a transparent cover for safety reasons. (not shown in
The solar heat collector can be one open end or two open ends. The collector can be oriented vertically, horizontally or in an angle less than 90 degree to the ground. Other shaped solar heat collectors are also can be used. For example, a camber solar cooking unit is also provided. The camber solar cooking unit comprises first camber transparent layer and second camber layer for absorbing solar heat. The first and second layers are insulated by air or evacuated in between. A heat conducting and storage material with heat insulation placed in camber space defined by said insulation and second camber layer. The material thermally connected to the solar heat absorber. The heat conducting and storage material is heat insulated. At least two chambers arranged in the heat conducting and storage material. Said chamber having first open end to receive said utensil and second open end located on top of a predefined heating zone of a cooking heater heated by a second energy; the size and shape of each said utensil fit the size and shape of one of said chambers respectively; a fan for removing smoke of file or for temperature control of said supplementary energy heater; and a heat insulated and non-ferromagnetic material (e.g. ceramic glass) separated said chamber from said supplementary energy heater; wherein said second energy is an energy except solar energy; a fan for removing smoke of fire and/or for controlling temperature of said supplementary energy heater; and a control panel for measuring, indicating and/or controlling the solar thermal unit and/or supplementary energy heater. Two vertical standing light reflectors arranged in two sides of the unit for reflect sunlight to said absorber. The plates can be rotated to track the sunlight and cover the absorber after cooking. A horizontal light reflector arranged at the front bottom of the unit for reflecting sunlight too. The plate also can be rotated to cover the transparent layer.
To allow the solar cooking appliances to be used in a traditional cooking way, a new solar thermal unit with plurality of vertical standing solar heat collector is disclosed. It can be used independently or to form the two energy source cooking appliance. A flat plate solar heat collector or a raw of evacuated solar heat collectors vertically stands and connected to a heat storage and conducting material on top. The cooking chamber and utensil are located in the material. A rotatable sunlight reflector plate(s) selectively arranged at the bottom of front door, right side and/or left side. The selection of the sides depends on the location (corner of wall, in door, or outdoor) of the appliance and seasons. The reflecting plate(s) can be closed to cover the solar heat collector and for heat insulation after cooking. The unit may further comprise an electric heater. The electric heaters can be selected as mentioned before.
Another modular solar thermal unit is also provided. The solar thermal unit comprises at least one solar heat collector for collecting solar heat. A chamber for receiving a utensil and thermally connected said solar heat collector to receive and transfer said solar heat to said utensil for cooking; said solar thermal unit further comprises a heat conducting and storage material thermally connected to said solar heat collector and a ceramic glass; said chamber arranged in said material; and said chamber having first open end to receive said utensil and second open end located on top of a predefined heating zone of a cooking range; said range is merged by a supplementary energy heater; and the ceramic glass separated said chamber and said supplementary energy heater. The supplementary energy heater is powered by any energy except solar energy. For example, the second energy may be gas, oil, coal and biomass. The examples of the electric heaters are infrared heater, microwave heater, resistance heater and induction cooking heater etc. They can be considered and selected. The second source heater further comprises a fan for remove smoke and control the temperature of the heater.
One or more food-admixable and induction-heatable objects are provided for mixture with food. They may be alternatively be referred to herein as “material mixed with food”. The material can be mixed with food and heated to promote fast and uniform heating of the food. The material, which may for example take the form of balls, nets or sheets, comprises ferromagnetic material for generating induction heat. The material may have an associated magnetic tool, which may be a kitchen or serving utensil such as a skimmer or draining spoon for checking and removing the mixed material after cooking. The material should be food-safe, i.e. should not contaminate fod or render it unsafe for human consumption.
The “material mixed with food”, the “removing tool”, the “insulated utensil” and the “two layer utensil” mentioned above also can be used for all kinds of cooking appliances with an induction heater.
As mentioned before, solar cooking appliance can ideally integrate a supplementary energy heater and switch between two energy heaters flexibly and freely. Electricity is the most convenient supplementary energy heater. In this disclosure more removable electric heaters are provided for selective use in solar cooking appliance. Such heaters may for example be electric resistance heater, induction heaters, infrared heaters, light heaters, immersion heaters, radiated heater and microwave heaters etc. The heater cooks the food by one or more chamber wall, utensil, heat conducting and storage material, one or more food-admixable and induction-heatable objects and a ferromagnetic material in the utensil. The heater can be located in the multi-functional cover, inside or outside of the utensil, inside or outside of the chamber, above or under the food. The electric power may be drawn from a vehicle battery, electric power bank, solar-electricity unit or utility power system. The electric heater usually is separated from the chamber by removable insulation and a heat conducting material (e.g. metal plate). The insulation is to avoid the solar heat lost to the space of second heater. For the induction heater and the infrared heater, a ceramic glass can replace insulation and a heat conducting material. In some cases, the separator and second heater can also be integrated. It is ceramic glass with an electric-heat coating on the back or between two pieces of the ceramic glass. In this case, the coating connects to a power supply. When the electric current passes through the ceramic glass, the electric energy is converted to heat directly for heating the utensil.
We also disclosed build-in electric heater in the solar cooking range/stove. The solar cooking range/stove may be structured the same as existing ranges popularly used to meet cooking habit and custom of kitchen workers. When the solar cooking utensil is directly or indirectly heat insulated, the electricity efficiency can be very high. Even if no solar heat is used, the electricity efficiency of solar cooking utensil may still be higher than the efficiency of some commercial available electric cooking appliances. The reason is that the heat released from the heater and/or utensil to the ambient surrounding (e.g. room) may be reduced, since the heat conducting and storage material may absorbe such heat for further use before it is lost.
The electric heater may be one of many choices. In one example, an induction cooking heater for solar cooking appliance is provided to form a solar-electric induction cooking appliance. The induction heater comprises: a high frequency (e.g. 24 KHZ) AC electric power source; an electric coil connected to said power source, said coil having shape and size to closely fit the shape and size of the cooking chamber or a solar cooking utensil; a temperature sensor or a thermostat; and a controller. The shape of the coil can be that of a tube, plate or both. The electric heaters may have a low and safe AC or DC voltage (e.g. 12V, 24 V or 36 V) with a high temperature cable (e.g. 250 degree Celsius and more). It may be battery voltage of vehicles or the safety voltage allowed in wet places. Therefore, an electric transformer or an electric adapter may require.
The solar cooking appliance with supplementary energy source allows the cooking processing to continue uninterrupted, regardless of weather conditions of time of day, more stable than solar cooking appliance lacking supplementary energy sources. The appliance can accordingly be used much like a traditional cooking appliance, despite its use of solar energy. The challenge of this kind of appliance is that the supplementary heater usually needs to heat the heat storage material in the appliance. The material may store large amount of heat. In this solar cooking range, the special arrangement may be as following: the chamber wall and the heat conducting and storage material may be made of non-ferromagnetic materials while the utensil may contain ferromagnetic material. Therefore the induction heater can heat the utensil and food only. No electric power is consumed for the purpose of heating the heat conducting and storage material. Furthermore, we arrange at least two chambers and utensils having different sizes than previously disclosed can be provided. When the food is cooked by solar heat, the two utensils are located in the two chambers having sizes to fit the sizes of the utensils. When solar energy is insufficient for cooking, a smaller sized one of the utensils can be placed in the larger chamber for cooking by induction heater. The utensil or chamber may be sized and shaped so that an air gap is automatically formed between the chamber wall and the utensil wall. The gap acts as a heat insulator to protect the electric heat transferring from utensil to the wall. A larger size utensil can be used on the top of the smaller chamber. We only need to add a cylinder of heat storage and conducting material into the chamber for conducting the heat to the utensil. The cylinder contains ferromagnetic material and has a size smaller than the size of the chamber. Or we can arrange an electric heater directly heat the utensil without going through a chamber.
The efficiency of a solar cooking appliance can be improved by causing its solar heat collector to track the location of the sun in the sky as the earth rotates. In one example, the solar heat collector can be rotated using wheels to track the sun. However, such a solar heat collector may be poorly suited for constrained spaces in which the solar collection equipment may be obstructed from movement. Furthermore users may prefer to locate a solar/electric cooking range/stove indoors while the solar heat collector is outdoors. Therefore it may be difficult to rotate a solar cooking range for tracking the sun's apparent movement. An oblique angle and a single point adjustment solar heat collector is provided to solve this challenge. The solar heat collecting panel can be rotated around a point on the panel or a vertical central line.
The collector may have a inverted V (Like the caret symbol ̂,) with an upward pointing apex, a convergence pipe on the top of apex ̂ for interconnecting and receiving a set of non-orthogonal liquid tubes arranged on two sides of the convergence pipe. A first and higher end of the pipe connected to the range with a flexible connection (e.g. ball shape connection or a flexible tube connection). A second end of the pipe may be supported by a height adjustable supporter (e.g. a screw) to adjust the height of the supporter, and therefore the angle of the collector with respect to sunlight direction. The height adjustment can be made by an automation device, or by hand, e.g. monthly or weekly. Another solution is to make the solar heat absorber/collector plate-shaped. The absorber/collector may have a structure, (e.g. gear) to rotate the collector around the center axis of the convergence pipe to track the movement of sunlight. A second end of the pipe is supported by a height adjustable supporter (e.g. a screw) to adjust the height of the supporter, and therefore the angle of the collector will respect to sunlight direction.
Another solution is to locate solar cooking appliance at the south face front or corner of the building. The solar heat collector of such an appliance can be an evacuated tube, semi-rounded tube or flat plate solar heat collector. Said solar heat collector is arranged perpendicularly, parallel to or at an angle with respect to the ground on at least one side of the appliance. One or a set of automatic rotated light reflectors (e.g. rotated between front bottom, right side, and/or left side or in 360 degree) can replace the rotation of the collector. For example, when the appliance is arranged at the southeast corner of the building, the solar heat collector can be arranged at left and front sides of the appliance. When it is used out door, the solar heat collector can be arranged at left, right and front sides of the appliance. The solar heat collector comprises sunlight reflector able to rotate for tracking sunlight and for closing the solar heat collection after cooking. The solar heat collector may have an automatic controller.
A solar heat collector is provided. It comprises a plate shaped solar heat absorber having a convergent pipe at the center of said absorber; a structure to rotate the collector around the center axis of the convergence pipe; first end of said pipe connected to solar cooking unit flexibly; and second end of said pipe supported by a height adjustable supporter;
A solar heat collector arranged perpendicular to ground on at least one side of said appliance, said solar heat collector comprising sunlight reflector arranged in at least one side of the solar heat collector selected from right, left and front sides; said reflector being able to rotate for tracking sunlight and for closing the solar heat collector after cooking.
Other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of above introduction and the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
The advantages related to the present invention can be further understood via the following detailed description and drawings.
Refereeing to
The appliances 101 and 102 have first utensil 1301 and 1302 located in the chamber 1121 and 1122 respectively that have the size and shape to fit the size and shape of the chambers. In this document, the term “utensil” refer to rigid or flexible containers or packages, including disposable containers or packages, e.g. shown in
The cover 1401 has first part 14011 covers the utensil, second part 14012 that covers the gap between the utensil and chamber, and the gap between the chamber and the cooktop. The cover 1401 has a mechanical locking and releasing structures 143 and 145 (e.g. spirals) to make the utensil an airtight container and make the cover a handle for moving the utensil. The cover 1401 has first air hole 14010 that connects the inside and outside of the chamber 1121. The second fluid channel 170 is an assembled channel comprising a set of selectively assemble and removable fluid tubes 171, 172 and 173. Fluid tube 172 is located in the utensil 1301 and connected to the cover. Fluid tube 171 connects the cover with a second utensil 160 that located outside of the solar heat collector. 173 is arranged in the second utensil 160. Fluid tube 173 has a part 167 that is submerged in the food and an air hole 174 located higher than the liquid level 168 in the utensil. 167may also have a net 175 at the end of 167 to allow liquid and steam passing through while prevent solid food from entering the channel 170.
The utensil 160 may be heat-insulated by insulation 161 and has a lid 162. It also can be a transparent and two layer liquid container 1602 with a tea holder 169 as shown in C. The utensil 160 can also be a coffee pot 1603 as shown in D. Container 1602 and coffee pot1603 may be as described in prior patent application. The covers may also have removable and attached electric heaters 151 and 152 with electric connectors 1501 and 1502 respectively. The electric heaters may for example be microwave heaters, infrared heaters, resistant heaters, induction heaters and light heaters.
In
The appliances further comprise heat conducting and storage materials 1201 and 1202. The materials can be any material able to heat to the temperature higher than water boiling temperature. For example, they can be solid material, liquid material and phase change materials. For induction heater, a ferromagnetic or non-ferromagnetic material can be used. Here a separable and combinable material 1201 is used. The material 1201 has a first material 12011 mainly for heat conducting. Here it is an empty cylinder made of heat conducting material (e.g. copper or aluminum). It is used when solar radiation is strong and a cooking processing needs to complete faster. The second material 12012 is mainly for heat storage (e.g. sand, salt, oil etc.). For the heater 1501, the material is ferromagnetic material. The second material can be received in and removed out from the first material. The material 1202, 12021, 12022 have same feature as 1201, 12011, 12012.
When sunlight 100 shines on the solar heat collector 1101, the collector absorbs the solar heat to heat the utensil 1301 and the heat conducting and storage material 1201. The multi-functional cover 1401 covered the utensil. Initially none of the assembled tubes 171, 172 and 173 is connected to the multi-functional cover 1402. The food will be cooked in the utensil 1302. The material 1202 will provide stored heat for a continued cooking as shown in
The utensil 1601 also has a hole in the lid for air exchange. The utensil 1601 can be changed to a steamer (not show in
Referring to
The solar heat collector 1101 and 1102 are arranged and fixed in two semi-pipes (18011 and 18021) respectively. Each said semi-pipe 18011 or 18021 has a base material 181 or 183 and a light reflecting layer 182 or 184 on its inner surface respectively. The focuses of the reflected sunlight from semi-pipe 1801 or 1802 are located in the inner space of the evacuated tube 1101 or 1102 respectively. The semi-pipe can be made of plastic, metal, wood, bamboo, carbon glass, fibre glass with epoxy, clay (ceramic pipe) or other material including combination thereof. The light reflecting layer 182 or 184 may be a reflecting coat, or a reflecting membrane/foil plates on the inner surface of the semi-pipe. The semi-pipe can also be a polished metal (e.g. aluminum) semi pipe.
Connection part or parts 1803 and 1804 (e.g. hinges), connect the two semi-pipes. The two semi-pipes 18011 and 18021 can be opened for said collectors 1101 and 1102 to absorb solar heat as shown in A of
Two end caps or couplings 187 and 188 may be arranged at the two ends of the pipe to replace or add to the hoops for closing the pipe and for safety reason. 187 and 188 can cap the pipe from outside (as shown in
The semi-pipe can also be an allotype semi-pipe with any shape. The semi-pipe may be a part of a round tube with a certain arc angle, i.e. round camber plate. An allotype pipe 1806 is exemplary illustrated in schematic vertical section view in D. The key point is that all the reflected lights from said semi-pipe can reach the absorbing surface of said evacuated tube 1101 and 1102, whatever the sunlight is from any direction. In other word, all the reflecting light from each semi-pipe should be toward and reach the corresponding absorbing layer. The focuses of the reflecting light should be located in the inner spaces of the tubes 1101 and 1102 respectively. Therefore either in the round pipe case or in the allotype pipe case, the arrangement of the collectors allows all the reflecting light from the light reflecting surfaces 182 and 184 to reach the absorbing surface of the solar heat collector, whatever the sunlight is from any direction. To save material of the allotype pipe, the supporters 11011 and 11021 also can be adjustable. It allows the two larger evacuated tubes to be located in two sides of the pipe when the pipe is closed for transportation. It shows in dotted line in D of
The glass tube may be brittle (fragile and sharp). It causes some safety concern to the operation and transportation of the collectors. The glass tube is fully located in the semi-pipe of the solar thermal unit mentioned above. The semi-pipes can protect the tubes in operation. The closed pipe can protect the tubes in storage and during transportation. The semi-pipes further play a role as a supporting element and packaging material for the solar heat collector. A semi-pipe also can be manufactured by stamping or pressing processing. The semi-pipe also can be made by cutting a pipe in two halves or in several pieces. The manufacture processing of a plastic or metal pipe is easy and cost effective. The pipe shape structure makes the manufacture of the semi-pipe, therefore the modular unit easy to manufacture and cost effective. The solar thermal unit 180 not only can be used for the solar cooking appliance. It also can be used in any other kind of solar heat appliances, such as solar hot water system and solar space heating system. For a solar hot water device it may further selectively comprise fluid manifold, (convergent) pipe, heat pipe, heat storage and conducting material, a heat insulation, a fluid container, a pump, a controller and/or other accessories. Furthermore more than one modular solar thermal unit can be connected through connecting parts or hinges to form multi-units.
When in operation, the unit 180 can can be placed in vertically, horizontally or at an angle with ground as shown in E of
Of cause, the semi-pipes mentioned above also can separately be used in two single solar cooking appliances, e.g. 101 or 102. The single appliance comprise a solar heat collector 1101 or 1102, a cooking utensil 130 can be arranged in solar heat collector for cooking, a reflector shaped as a semi-pipe or a having a cross section with a circular arc shape.. The reflector may also be used for fixing and supporting the solar heat collector and as a package. A transparent bag cover the solar cooking appliance to cover the package for saving packaging material. The product information may be printed on the outside surface of the reflector. Furthermore, either or both solar cooking unit(s) of 101 and/or 102 may have a cover (not shown in
Referring to
All the components are arranged in a shell to form a completed range. A magnetic strength and overheat warning device 256 is arranged at the control panel. The range may have one electric cooking heater 335 that is directly arranged under the cooktop without connecting any of the chamber and heat conducting and storage material. The heater is used by the largest size utensil and any other utensils with any special size and shape when the range is at electricity cooking style.
For easy transferring between solar cooking and second heater cooking, there is another alternative solution. The chambers 3310-3340 may have the same size. The utensils have two different sizes. The larger size utensils fit the size of the chambers for solar heat cooking. When the supplementary energy heater is in operation, the smaller size utensils can be inserted into the larger size chambers. There is an air gap between the chamber wall and the utensil wall for heat insulation. It is same as shown in A of
When sunlight 300 shines on the solar heat collector 310, the absorbed heat by the collector 310 is transferred to the heat storage and conducting material 320 that placed in the compartment 316 and the solar heat collector 310. The solar heat will cook the food in the utensils. The chamber wall 331-334 made of heat conducting material (e.g. metal) transfers the solar heat to the utensil 3310-3340 for cooking food in the utensil when the chamber sizes fits the utensil sizes. The multi-functional cover (e.g. 341) has a part closely attached to the cooktop 315 for preventing the cooking fluid leaked to the chambers.
When electric heating is required, the small size utensil 3340 can be moved from the chamber 334 to a larger size chamber 333. An air gap 3334 will be formed between the utensil wall 3334 and chamber wall 333 as heat insulation. To turn on the electric heater 353, the heater will heat the utensil 3340 at the bottom of the utensil only. The leaked heat from utensil will be transferred to the heat storage and conducting material 320 and stored for next solar cooking or for hot air (though fun 382) or hot water (through water tube 383). This range has no heat loss to the surrounding investment as other ranges do. Here the fun 382 can be located in the chamber, on or under the cooktop. The electric power souce and the heater can be many kinds of electric sources and heaters as mentioned in the description of
In
When the electric power turns on, an AC current is generated in the high frequency (e.g. 24 kHz) power source 3511. The current passes through the coil of copper wire 3510. The resulting oscillating magnetic field induces a magnetic flux to repeatedly magnetize the ferromagnetic material in the utensil. Therefore large eddy current is generated to produce heat at the resistance of the utensil for food cooking. Of cause, we can also allow the wall of the chamber containing ferromagnetic material (e.g. stainless steel). The induction current will heat both chamber wall and the utensil wall to cook food. In this case more electric heat may be transferred to the heat conducting and storage material.
In some cases, the heat insulated compartment 316 including its chambers may be removed for the range to be used as a regular induction cooking appliance. In the chamber 331, another utensil 360 is arranged outside of the chamber. A multi-functional cover 341 covers the utensil and chamber, An assembled fluid channel 310 is arranged. In this case, following components have the same features: chambers 1301 and 331, utensils 1301 and 3310, multi-functional covers 1401 and 341, heaters 1501 and 351, assemble fluid channel 170 and 370, utensils 160 and 360 and heat conducting and storage materials 1201 and 1202. Therefore all the description in
One of the important challenges of solar cooking is as following: The solar heat absorber has to be located outdoors, but the cooks/chefs may prefer to prepare and cook foods indoors. The diners may also prefer to eat their foods indoors. For safety reasons, the parents also like children to stay away from cooking appliances. Therefore it is advantageous to develop a solar cooking appliance for indoor user with a solar heat collector located outdoor. The solar cooking appliance shows in
Referring to
When the sun light 100 shines on the solar heat collector 40, the collector 410 absorbs the solar heat and transfers it to the heat conducting and storage material 420 and the chamber walls 431, 432 and 433 to cook the food in the utensils 4310, 4320 and 4330. When the solar heat is not enough for cooking, we change the utensils to the small size utensils 4311, 4321 and 4331. An air gap will be formed between the utensil wall and the chamber wall for heat insulation. When the heat insulation is taken out from the bottom of utensils, the bottom of the utensil will connect the glass plate 454 directly. To turn on the electricity, the infrared from the heater 451, 452 and 453 will heat the predefined zone that is under the bottom of the utensils. In this way the food can be cooked.
A food bag 438 in chamber 432 of
Referring to
The interface 53 has a transparent or translucent window 531 for cook and dinner to monitor the outside part of the solar cooking appliance 50. The monitor can also be an outdoor monitoring camera 5310 with a screen 562 indoors. Other watching tools are also could be used.
The solar heat collector 51 can be any kind of solar heat collector for cooking, e.g. an evacuated solar heat collector with integrated food cooking features in one compact unit. The chamber 510 of collector 51 comprises a utensil 511 and a multi-functional cover 512. They are same as the utensil 1301 and 1302 and the multi-functional cover 1401 and 1402 disclosed in details in the description of
The chamber 510 may also comprise a removable and modular heat conducting and storage material. The material comprises at least first unit 513 and second unit 514. The first unit comprises a removable, replaceable and modular unit mainly for heat transferring. 513 may be an empty cylinder made of heat conductive material, e.g. metal. The second unit 514 may be 513 contained with a heat storage material, e.g. sand or salt. The heat storage material is able to be received in and removed out from the cylinder. The first unit 513 and second unit 514 have same size and shape to fit the size and shape of the inner space of solar heat collector, e.g. chamber 510. The heat conducting and storage material in unit 514 can be any one that introduced before. The number of unit 513 and 514 are more than one. They are transferrable and replaceable each other. So the solar cooking speed is adjustable by adjust the unit numbers of 513, 514 and their ratio. The chamber may further comprise an elastomer 515 to protect the gravity impact from the components of the chamber.
The reflector 52 is for reflecting the sunlight 100 to the solar heat collector 51. The reflector 52 can be any kind of sunlight reflector. Here it is an elongated reflector having a circular arc shaped cross section with a circular arc angle θ, as shown in 7 of
The rotating controller of said reflector 52 is located indoors so that a cook located indoors is able to operate the solar cooing appliance 50. For example: a control handle may be located indoors, if said controller is manual; a control button may be located indoors, if the controller is an electric controller; an operating computer of a remote controller may be located indoors. Here a setting and operating device (e.g. a computer 562) is indoors, and the controller is computer program controlled. The rotation may be controlled in 24 hours for a cycle or by sunlight direction.
In some cases, to make the rotation of the reflector 52 easier, the reflector may be made of a light and very thin plastic sheet (e.g. thinness less than 0.5 mm) with a reflecting coat on the surface. Alternatively, the rotated part is a transparent closed hollow cylinder or part of cylinder. The transparent hollow cylinder may be coated with the reflecting material partially. The other part may be kept transparent for the protection of solar heat collector.
The solar cooking appliance may have an electric heater either selectively arranged in the utensil 511, the multi-functional cover 512 or located in the chamber of solar heat collector 51. This kind of heater has a very high efficiency. An alternative way is to have a second energy cooking device 54 arranged near to or under the open end 511, or to put the open end 511 close to an existing range 54 in a kitchen. The supplementary energy heater 54 can be selected from a group of electricity heater, fossil fuel heater and a biomass heater as introduced before. Here 54 is an electric stove in a kitchen. When food is cooking, the second energy cooking appliance 54 provides an auxiliary energy to solar. It makes the solar cooking indoors possible at any time regardless of whether sunlight is abundant at the time.
Historically, most solar cooking appliances need to change its direction and angle of the appliances to track the movement of sunlight. In contrast, the reflector 52 can rotate in 360 degree and around clockwise direction (in northern hemisphere). We can use a longer solar heat collector 51 and arrange the collector at a stable situation and a fixed angle β for all operation time. This arrangement makes the high efficiency solar cooking appliance for indoor user become achievable. The appliance 50 is simple, cost effective and with high efficiency. To get the highest efficiency for this kind appliance in different areas, the best angle β needs to be calculated and decided by the geographic data. As higher the geographic latitude, as larger the angle β is suggested. Furthermore we can also arrange an angle β adjusting structure 55. It allows the collector 51 rotated between β to 0 degree in a vertical face perpendicular to the ground. Therefore, in summer, the appliance 50 can receive more solar energy. In some special cases, we also can arrange the solar heat collector 51 to rotate in a face perpendicular to ground with the angle β between 0-90 degrees. In this case, 51 is short enough. Then the angle 13 should be adjusted every month, week or day. This case is illustrated in side view, case 5 of
In
Referring to
The solar heat collector 61 can be any kind of solar heat collector, e.g. an evacuated solar heat collector. It comprises two layers of glasses or outer layer of glass with interior layer of metal. A solar heat absorbing coating is applied on the interior layer. The space between two said layers is evacuated for heat insulation. The chamber 610 of collector 61 comprises a utensil 611 and multi-functional cover 612. They are as discussed in details above. They can be used in appliance 60. The features described before can be selectively copied to here. The chamber 610 may comprise a modular heat conducting material 613 and a modular heat conducting and storing material 614 to store and transfer solar heat to said utensil. They have standard sizes. For example, 613 is an empty cylinder with standard size and made of heat conductive material e.g. metal. The heat storage material can be any heat storage material introduced in our prior patent applications. Materials 613 and 614 are transferrable each other by put in and take out the heat storage material. So the solar cooking speed is adjustable. The chamber may further comprise an elastomer 615 to protect the gravity impact from the components of the chamber.
As noted above a stent 63 supports the solar thermal unit. The stent comprises a receiving and connecting structure for receiving and attaching kitchen supplies. The attached applies may be selected from a group of: a square frame, a cook top, an electric heater, a cabinet to store foods and kitchen applies or a hooks to hold a kitchen supplies etc. All of them are able to attach to and detach from the appliance. As an example, a short section of tube 532 can be welded onto the stent. A square frame 533 can be attached to the stent. The frame can receive a removable flat plate as cook top. The frame also can receive an electric heater (e.g. an electric induction heater) as a supplementary energy heater. A cabinet 635 is also can attached to the appliance.
An angle adjust device 64 is for adjusting the angle of solar thermal unit from near 90 degree to 0 degree, Any angle adjusting devices, such as many existing window openers, can be used as the adjusting device. Here it is an arc shaped supporting bar with saw teeth. Each serrated defines a special angle for the appliance. If we make the number of the saw teeth as the multiple number or common divisor of 6, (e.g. 3, 6, 12 etc.) then each defined saw teeth may correspond to a special month, two months or half month. The adjustor 64 also can be replaced by a rope connected the end of the reflector. A wheel 66 is for the appliance to track the sunlight movement from morning to evening. A rotatable reflector as disclosed in
The reflector 62 can be any kind of the sunlight reflector. Here it is shaped as circular arc. A hoop connects and supports the sunlight reflector 62. Two rotating axes at the two ends of the hoop extend into two rotating bases 6371 and 6372 at the stent for the reflector to rotate around the bases. A sun shadow indicator may help to adjust the vertical and horizontal angles of the appliance. (not shown)A computer program also can be used for the appliance to track the sunlight movement. At two edges of the reflector, there may be two slots for an inserted transparent plate 65 for protecting the solar heat collector 61. The second heater can be the attached electric heater 633, it also can be a electric heater in chamber 514 or in the multi-functional cover. They are described before. The second heat also can be a BBQ stove or others. There may also be a umbrella (did not shown) for chef's shade.
Referring to
A breathing hole 717 is intended to receive a breathing tube. The beverage can 72 has a wall 721, bottom 723, a tab 722 on the top for open the can. It may be similar to the beverage cans already on the market, One difference is the presence of breathing hole 723 with a removable seal 724. The seal 724 may also be a seal can be closed. The utensils 71 and 72 may have a pleated structure (not shown in drawing) at their wall for air release and or a cable of electric heater. The utensil 73 has a soft wall 731 whichmay be made from a film or foil made of metal, plastic, ceramic gel or other soft material. The prepared food (e.g. fresh vegetable may store in the bag for solar cooking. Again, there is a breathing hole 733 and a seal 734. A resealable closure732 (e.g. a zipper or push zipper) may allow food to be accessed and the bag to be resealed.
In
Please note that for brevity, a component of a solar cooking appliance may be described in details herein in one paragraph or for only one sample solar cooking appliance. But the descriptions they may be applicable to other sample solar cooking appliances described herein.
Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the invention is defined in the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2952462 | Dec 2016 | CA | national |
| 2988689 | Dec 2017 | CA | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CA2017/000272 | 12/21/2017 | WO | 00 |
