Method of preventing exhaust gas from leaking out of food waste disposer

Abstract

A method of preventing exhaust gas from leaking out of a drying furnace is disclosed. In the method, the temperature of an exhaust passage and the temperature of a heater are measured, and turning on/off the heater is controlled in response to the measured temperatures. The present invention can be applied to all kinds of apparatuses having drying furnaces which are heated by heaters and thus generate the exhaust gas and can effectively prevent exhaust gas from leaking out of the apparatuses. Furthermore, the present invention can be more effectively applied to food waste disposers which heat food waste containing a large amount of water. In particular, the present invention is effective for circulation food waste disposers in which exhaust gas is condensed and re-supplied into a drying furnace as recirculation gas.

1 . A method of preventing exhaust gas from leaking out of a drying furnace, comprising:
 (a) measuring a temperature of an exhaust passage through which the exhaust gas generated in the drying furnace by a heater flows;   (b) turning off the heater when the temperature of the exhaust passage is a first temperature or more; and   (c) measuring a temperature of the heater when the temperature of the exhaust passage is less than the first temperature, and turning off the heater when the temperature of the heater reaches a second temperature or more.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: after (c) measuring,
 (d) turning on the heater again when the temperature of the exhaust passage is less than the first temperature and the temperature of the heater is less than the second temperature.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein heat exchange is performed on the exhaust gas to form recirculation gas and the recirculation gas is re-supplied into the drying furnace through the exhaust passage, and
 the temperature of the exhaust passage that is measured at (a) comprises a temperature of the exhaust passage which is measured when the recirculation gas flows through the exhaust passage.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the exhaust passage comprises an exhaust gas duct through which the exhaust gas flows, and a recirculation gas duct through which the recirculation gas flows, and
 the temperature of the exhaust passage that is measured at (a) comprises a temperature measured in the recirculation gas duct.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the heater that is measured at (c) comprises a temperature measured by a sensor disposed on the heater or by a sensor disposed adjacent to the heater. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature ranges from 60° C. to 110° C. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the first temperature ranges from 75° C. to 85° C. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the first temperature is 80° C. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second temperature ranges from 100° C. to 200° C. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the second temperature ranges from 140° C. to 150° C. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the second temperature is 145° C. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least either the temperature of the exhaust passage or the temperature of the heater is measured by a temperature sensor or a temperature and humidity sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the drying furnace comprises a drying furnace of a food waste disposer, and
 the exhaust gas comprises gas generated by heating food waste input into the drying furnace.   
     
     
         14 . A food waste disposer, comprising:
 a drying furnace provided with a heater;   a heater temperature sensor disposed on a surface of the heater or at a position adjacent to the heater;   an exhaust passage through which exhaust gas generated by the heater flows;   an exhaust passage temperature sensor disposed in the exhaust passage; and   a control unit controlling the heater in response both to a temperature of the heater measured by the heater temperature sensor and a temperature of the exhaust passage measured by the exhaust passage temperature sensor.   
     
     
         15 . The food waste disposer according to  claim 14 , wherein the exhaust passage comprises: an exhaust gas duct through which the exhaust gas is discharged out of the drying furnace; and a recirculation gas duct through which heat exchange is performed on the exhaust gas to form recirculation gas and the recirculation gas is re-supplied into the drying furnace, and
 the temperature of the exhaust passage comprises a temperature measured in the recirculation gas duct.