Combination convection steamer oven

A combination convection/steamer oven, comprising:

• a) a cooking cavity having side walls, a ceiling, and a floor;
• b) a drain channel disposed beneath the cooking cavity and communicating with a drain opening in the cooking cavity;
• c) a heating apparatus for heating the cooking cavity;
• d) a steam generating system including a water supply source for supplying steam to the cooking cavity;
• e) a blower for circulating cooking gases inside the cooking cavity;
• and
• f) a controller operably connected to the steam generating system, the controller including:
• i) a temperature sensor disposed in the cooking cavity for detecting the cooking cavity temperature,
• ii) a temperature sensor disposed in the drain channel for detecting the drain temperature,
• iii) a processor connected to the temperature sensors for deriving a drain temperature set point from the detected cooking cavity temperature and for comparing the detected drain temperature to the derived drain temperature set point to determine whether or not to actuate the steam generating system.

A method for regulating water flow rate into of a steam cooking apparatus having a cooking cavity and a steam generating system, the steam generating system including an adjustable water supply source, a heating element, a heat exchanger, and a microprocessor controller, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) measuring the cooking cavity temperature;
• b) measuring the rate of cooking cavity temperature change;
• c) storing a predetermined cooking cavity change rate in a memory component of the microprocessor controller;
• d) comparing the measured rate of cooking cavity temperature change with the stored, predetermined cooking cavity temperature change rate;
• e) calculating the water flow rate required to achieve an optimum steam saturation level inside the cooking cavity;
• and
• f) adjusting the water flow rate into the steam generating system according to the calculated water flow rate.

A method for setting a water flow rate in a steam cooking apparatus having a cooking cavity, a steam generating system including an adjustable water flow regulator, and a microprocessor controller for controlling the steam generating system, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) measuring the cooking cavity temperature;
• b) determining, as a function of the cooking cavity temperature, a water flow rate required to achieve an optimum steam saturation level in the cooking cavity without quenching the steam generating system apparatus during operation of the steam cooking apparatus;
• and
• c) controlling the adjustable water flow regulator with the microprocessor controller so as to deliver water to the steam generating system at the determined water flow rate.

A steam cooking apparatus, comprising:

• a) a cooking cavity;
• b) a cavity temperature sensor disposed in the cooking cavity for detecting the cooking cavity temperature;
• c) a steam generating system for supplying steam to the cooking cavity and including an adjustable water flow regulator for delivering water at varying flow rates to the steam generating system;
• and
• d) a microprocessor controller operably connected to the cavity temperature sensor and the water flow regulator for calculating, as a function of the detected cooking cavity temperature, a water flow rate required to achieve an optimum steam saturation level in the cooking cavity without quenching the steam generating system apparatus during operation of the steam cooking apparatus, and for adjusting the water flow regulator according to the calculated water flow rate.