Steam generation system for use in cooking appliance

A steam generator system for a cooking appliance having a cooking cavity, the steam generator system comprising:

• a water reservoir at least partially disposed in a lower portion of the steam generator system;
• an in-line heating element coupled to a heating tube, wherein the steam generator system is configured such that water from the water reservoir is gravitationally fed to the heating tube for heating by the in-line heating element to produce a hot water and steam mixture;
• a first supply line coupled to the heating tube at a first end and further coupled to a separator at a second end, wherein the separator is disposed in an upper portion of the steam generator system and further wherein the hot water and steam mixture defines a first bubble pump to move the hot water and steam mixture from the lower portion of the steam generator system to the separator in the upper portion of the steam generator system;
• a second supply line coupled to the separator at a first end and having a steam outlet opening into the cooking cavity at a second end, wherein the second supply line is configured to supply steam separated at the separator to the cooking cavity;
• and
• a return line coupled to the separator at a first end and further coupled to the heating tube at a second end, wherein the return line is configured to gravitationally deliver hot water separated by the separator to the heating tube.

A method of generating and delivering steam to a cooking cavity of a cooking appliance, the method comprising the steps of:

• gravitationally delivering water from a water reservoir to a heating tube in a lower portion of a system;
• energizing an in-line heating element thermally coupled to the heating tube;
• heating the water via the in-line heating element;
• producing a pressurized hot water and steam mixture by heating the water via the in-line heating element;
• transporting the hot water and steam mixture to a separator disposed in an upper portion of the system via pressure;
• separating the hot water and steam mixture into a hot water component and a steam component via the separator;
• transporting the steam component to the cooking cavity of the cooking appliance via pressure;
• delivering the hot water component to a return line;
• and
• reintroducing the hot water component to the heating tube.