Patent Description:
Cooking appliances, particularly ovens, configured for steaming, for which said appliances heat up steam generated in a first steam generator device, obtaining superheated steam which they introduce into the cooking chamber of the oven, are known.

In that sense, <CIT> discloses a cooking appliance comprising a cooking chamber, a steam generator configured for injecting steam into the cooking chamber, a convection heater arranged in the cooking chamber heating the steam discharged from the steam generator, said steam being sprayed in a superheated steam state into the cooking chamber.

<CIT> discloses an oven comprising a steam generator device connected to a water reservoir, a device for generating superheated steam from the steam generated in the steam generator, a fan driving the superheated steam towards the upper part of the oven and introducing it into the cooking chamber of the oven, and a device for discharging the superheated steam inside the cooking chamber.

<CIT> discloses a superheat saturated steam generation method for pressure cooking involving mixing saturated superheated steam to dry air or water sprayed during cooking. The apparatus comprises a working chamber with inlets and an exit, a steam generator, and a steam superheater <NUM> which arranges in a row to the working chamber and to the steam generator <NUM>. The working chamber comprises a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, an humidity sensor and the temperature sensor and regulators which acts in response to each sensor.

<CIT> discloses a superheated steam generator including a pipe though which steam passes, a heat exchange unit disposed inside the pipe, a heater arranged outside the pipe, substantially parallel to the pipe and a heat transfer unit arranged between the pipe and the heater. The heat form heater heats the pipe through the heat transfer unit and the steam passing through the pipe comes in contact with the pipe to overheat the steam.

<CIT> discloses a high frequency heat cooking device comprising a first steam generating means, a second steam generating means, a high frequency heating means, and control means.

<CIT> discloses a continuous cooking apparatus which produces a large amount of water by supplying steam while at the same time spraying water along the conveyor. The apparatus comprises injectors configured to inject water at a temperature between <NUM> and <NUM>, this temperature cannot be higher because otherwise, the hot water would evaporate before it contacts the rice so that the rice would run out of water which would lead to a deterioration in taste. The apparatus further comprises an injection device that injects saturated or supersaturated steam into the lower part of the cooking chamber to heat the rice. The injection device includes injection ducts (and a plurality of injectors. The apparatus further comprises a steam supply device comprising a steam generation tank and a superheater for generating saturated steam from the steam generated in the tank, thus selectively supplying the injection device with saturated steam generated in the tank or superheated steam generated in the superheater.

<CIT> discloses a cooking apparatus which injects superheated steam into the cooking cavity. The cooking cavity houses a superheated steam generating device connected to a heating device such that the heating device provides steam to the superheated steam generating device. The superheated steam is injected into the food through supply ducts connected to the steam generator and arranged at the top and at the bottom of the cooking chamber.

<CIT> discloses a steam heating apparatus comprising the features of the preamble of claim <NUM>.

The object of the invention is to provide a steam generation system adapted to a cooking appliance configured for steaming, a cooking appliance comprising the steam generation system, and an operating method for the cooking appliance comprising the steam generation system, as defined in the claims.

One aspect of the invention relates to a steam generation system adapted to a cooking appliance, the cooking appliance comprising a cooking chamber comprising at least one steam injection point. The steam generation system comprises a water reservoir, a steam generator communicated with the water reservoir and configured for heating water from the water housed in the water reservoir, and a two-phase generator device connectable to the corresponding steam injection point. The two-phase generator device is communicated with the steam generator and configured for generating superheated steam and injecting it into the cooking chamber through the corresponding steam injection point, from the hot water or steam generated in the steam generator.

One of the advantages of the invention is that the steam generation system is more energy efficient with respect to other solutions known in the state of the art, since the fluid arriving at the two-phase generator device reaches a high temperature such that steam is obtained at temperatures which allow directly cooking foods with less energy. Superheated steam generation and injection take place in the same device, i.e., in the two-phase generator device, and furthermore the cooking appliance is simplified and optimized at the injection point of the cooking chamber. Furthermore, by arranging one two-phase generator device at each injection point, each injection point is made independent in terms of maintenance, malfunctions, etc., where the corresponding two-phase generator device can be readily replaceable. The obtained two-phase generator device is a compact and simplified device.

One of the biggest problems that steam generation systems known in the state of the art encounter arises from the accumulations of dry residues existing in the water which damage said steam generation systems, rendering them useless. The dry residues, which can be sludge with metal particles, lime, etc., settle mainly in the recesses of the injectors. The combination of the steam generator and the two-phase generator device allows most of the dry residues existing in the water to remain in the steam generator, such that the fluid arriving at the two-phase generator device is much cleaner. Harmful substances that may reach the food through the two-phase generator device are minimized and lime generation in said two-phase generator device is minimized, prolonging the service life thereof.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a cooking appliance comprising the cooking chamber including at least one steam injection point through which steam is injected into the cooking chamber, and the steam generation system communicated with the steam injection point.

Another aspect of the invention relates to an operating method for the cooking appliance comprising the steam generation system, the method comprising at least one steaming operating mode comprising a first rapid heating phase, in which the two-phase generator device operates at least at about <NUM>% of its maximum heating capacity and the steam generator operates at least at about <NUM>% of its maximum heating capacity until a setpoint temperature is reached in the cooking chamber, and a second stationary phase which starts when the setpoint temperature is reached in the cooking chamber, in which the steam generator operates at least at about <NUM>% of its maximum heating capacity, and the two-phase generator device operates at least at about <NUM>% of its maximum capacity and injects superheated steam into the cooking chamber.

Heating capacity of the two-phase generator device and/or of the steam generator is understood to be the electrical energy introduced into the two-phase device and/or into the steam generator (i.e., electric power) minus the thermal losses produced in both devices, said thermal losses being dynamic over time.

The operating method allows operating the steam generation system in an energy efficient manner. Moreover, when cooking with the second operating mode, food can be cooked directly with the superheated steam such that it maintains the organoleptic properties of the food and prevents it from drying up. Furthermore, it reduces the energy contribution of the grill and floor resistors of the oven itself, such that said resistors would not be responsible for cooking the food, rather their energy contribution would be minimal, so as to prevent rapid condensation of the superheated steam.

Furthermore, the operating method allows the fluid arriving at the two-phase generator device to be much cleaner. Harmful substances that may reach the food through the two-phase generator device are minimized and lime generation and/or solid residue deposition in said two-phase generator device is minimized, prolonging the service life thereof.

These and other advantages and features of the invention will become evident in view of the drawings and detailed description of the invention.

<FIG> schematically shows a cooking appliance <NUM> configured for steaming, comprising a cooking chamber <NUM> with at least one injection point <NUM>, a water reservoir <NUM>, and a steam generation system <NUM> according to the invention.

The steam generation system <NUM> according to the invention comprises a steam generator <NUM> communicated with the water reservoir <NUM> and configured for heating the water of the reservoir <NUM>, and at least one two-phase generator device <NUM> at the corresponding injection point <NUM>, the two-phase generator device <NUM> being communicated with the steam generator <NUM> and configured for generating superheated steam from the water leaving the steam generator <NUM> and for injecting said superheated steam into the cooking chamber <NUM>.

The steam generator <NUM>, schematically depicted in <FIG>, is configured for heating the water of the reservoir <NUM> preferably to a temperature of between about <NUM> and <NUM>, preferably between <NUM> and <NUM>, i.e., the water leaves the steam generator <NUM> in the form of steam or in liquid state at a very high temperature, close to the evaporation temperature. When reference is made throughout the description and claims to the water or fluid leaving the steam generator <NUM> or to the water or fluid entering the two-phase generator device <NUM>, it must be understood that said water or fluid is either steam or water at a very high temperature close to the evaporation temperature.

The two-phase generator device <NUM> is configured for heating the water which has previously passed through the steam generator <NUM> and can be in liquid or gaseous state, as explained above, preferably to a temperature of between about <NUM> to about <NUM>, generating superheated steam.

The cooking appliance <NUM> schematically shown in <FIG> comprises an injection point <NUM>, the two-phase generator device <NUM> being arranged such that it is connected directly to said injection point <NUM>. In other non-depicted embodiments, the cooking appliance <NUM> comprises a plurality of injection points <NUM> and the steam generator system <NUM> comprises a plurality of two-phase generator devices <NUM>, each two-phase generator device <NUM> being arranged such that it is connected directly to the corresponding injection point <NUM>. The injection points <NUM> where the two-phase generator devices <NUM> are connected are arranged in the central and/or lower part of side walls 4b of the cooking chamber <NUM> and/or of a ceiling 4a of said cooking chamber <NUM>.

Each two-phase generator device <NUM> is removable, i.e., can be readily extracted and interchanged from the steam generation system <NUM> and from the cooking chamber <NUM>. Should maintenance, repair, and/or replacement be necessary, the two-phase generator device <NUM> as a whole can be extracted and replaced in a rapid and simple manner without affecting the rest of the installation.

Each two-phase generator device <NUM> comprises heating means <NUM> configured for heating the inflow water generating superheated steam, and an injector <NUM> configured for injecting the superheated steam into the cooking chamber <NUM> through the corresponding injection point <NUM>. Each two-phase generator device <NUM> is arranged such that it is housed mainly on the outside of the cooking chamber <NUM>, the injector <NUM> being arranged such that it is housed at least partially inside the cooking chamber <NUM>.

The heating means <NUM> of the two-phase generator device <NUM> preferably comprise at least one resistive element. In an embodiment of the invention, the resistive element is manufactured by means of deposition, silk-screen printing, or functional active ink injection technologies. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the resistive element is a thick-film resistor. In other embodiments, the resistive element could be a tubular resistive element.

The two-phase generator device <NUM>, shown in detail in <FIG>, comprises a body <NUM> in which the heating means <NUM> are housed, the body <NUM> including at least one deflector <NUM> configured for diverting inflow water in the two-phase generator device <NUM>. The heat transfer from the heating means to the water going through the two-phase generator device <NUM> is therefore much more effective.

In an embodiment of the invention shown in <FIG>, each two-phase generator device <NUM> comprises a plurality of deflectors <NUM> arranged configuring a labyrinthine path for the water throughout the two-phase generator device <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heating means <NUM> are arranged such that they are fixed inside the body <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. In other embodiments, the heating means can be arranged on the deflectors <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the body <NUM> of the two-phase generator device <NUM> has a substantially cylindrical geometry, as shown in <FIG>. In another embodiment according to the invention not shown in the figures, the body <NUM> has a substantially prismatic geometry.

Moreover, in one of the embodiments, the injector <NUM> of the two-phase generator device <NUM> can be orientable. In particular, the injector <NUM> of the two-phase generator device <NUM> can be arranged oriented towards the center of the cooking chamber <NUM> or towards the fan blades (not depicted in the figures) housed inside the cooking chamber <NUM> such that a homogenous distribution of the injected fluid takes place. To that end, the control means of the cooking appliance <NUM> control the speed of the fan such that it operates at speeds compatible with superheated steam injection. In another embodiment, the injector <NUM> of the two-phase generator device <NUM> can be arranged such that it is oriented towards the center of the cooking chamber <NUM>.

The injector <NUM> comprises a nozzle <NUM> coupled to the body <NUM>, and a silicone conduit <NUM> coupled to the nozzle <NUM>, the conduit <NUM> going through the cooking chamber <NUM> through the corresponding injection point <NUM>. The conduit <NUM> is arranged such that it is housed inside the cooking chamber <NUM>. The conduit <NUM> is coupled to the nozzle <NUM> preferably through an element made of a material with shape memory. This element, not depicted in the figures, is configured for being elongated when a given temperature is reached, causing the conduit <NUM> to rotate or bend with respect to the nozzle <NUM>, being oriented with respect to same, recovering its initial position when the temperature drops below the given temperature again. The objective is to orient the injection of supersaturated steam towards the food located in the cooking chamber <NUM>.

Moreover, the steam generator <NUM>, shown in detail in <FIG>, comprises a body <NUM> with a water inlet <NUM> and an outlet <NUM>, and heating means <NUM> housed inside the body <NUM> configured for rapidly heating the inflow water until reaching a temperature of between about <NUM> and <NUM>, preferably between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. The steam generator <NUM> is not a water accumulator as such, but it does house a minimum of water so as to generate steam, given that the generation of steam in said steam generator <NUM> is not instantaneous. That is, the water of the reservoir <NUM> is driven towards the steam generator <NUM> where it is housed until it is heated through the heating means <NUM> and leaves, converted to steam or very hot water at a temperature between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, to go into the cooking chamber <NUM> or towards the two-phase generator device <NUM>. In the two-phase generator device <NUM> the fluid does not accumulate, as it enters the device it leaves converted to superheated steam without steam accumulating therein.

The heating means <NUM> of the steam generator <NUM> comprise at least one resistive element. In a preferred embodiment, the resistive element is manufactured by means of deposition, silk-screen printing, or functional active ink injection technologies. In a preferred embodiment, the resistive element is a thick-film resistor. In other embodiments according to the invention not shown in the figures, the resistive element can be tubular.

The heating means <NUM> of the steam generator <NUM> have an electric power greater than the heating means <NUM> of the two-phase generator device <NUM>. In an embodiment of the invention, the electric power of the steam generator <NUM> is in the order of about three times the electric power of the two-phase generator device <NUM>. In a preferred embodiment, the electric power of the two-phase generator device <NUM> is between about <NUM> W and about <NUM> W, and the electric power of the steam generator <NUM> is between about <NUM> W and <NUM> W.

The steam generator <NUM> shown in detail in <FIG> comprises a plurality of deflectors <NUM> inside the body <NUM> which are arranged configuring a labyrinthine path for the water through the steam generator <NUM>. The heat transfer from the heating means <NUM> to the water going through the steam generator <NUM> is therefore much more effective. In other embodiments, the steam generator <NUM> may not include deflectors.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the heating means <NUM> are arranged such that they are fixed on the inside the body <NUM>. In other embodiments not shown in the figures, the heating means <NUM> are arranged on the corresponding deflector <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment, the body <NUM> of the steam generator <NUM> has a substantially cylindrical geometry, as in the case of the embodiment of <FIG>. In another embodiment, the body <NUM> has a substantially prismatic geometry.

In another non-depicted embodiment of the invention, the steam generator comprises a conduit connected with the inlet and with the outlet of the steam generator, housed inside the body and arranged on the heating means, such that the water circulates through said conduit being heated by the heating means. In a preferred embodiment, the conduit may define a spiral path.

Moreover, the steam generation system <NUM> preferably further comprises drive means <NUM> configured for driving the water towards the steam generator <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the drive means <NUM> comprise a pump arranged between the water reservoir <NUM> and the steam generator <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the steam generator <NUM> is communicated with the two-phase generator device <NUM> by gravity. The drive means <NUM>, the water reservoir <NUM>, and the steam generator <NUM> are therefore arranged in the upper part of the cooking appliance <NUM>.

Furthermore, the steam generation system <NUM> according to the invention comprises regulating means 7a and 7b arranged between the steam generator <NUM> and the two-phase generator device <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the regulating means 7a and 7b comprise a double solenoid valve 7a between the drive means <NUM> and the generator device <NUM> and another double solenoid valve 7b at the outlet of the steam generator device <NUM>.

Furthermore, the steam generation system <NUM> comprises a conduit <NUM> configured for communicating the drive means <NUM> with the two-phase generator device <NUM> bypassing the steam generator <NUM>. In particular, the conduit <NUM> would directly communicate the two solenoid valves 7a and 7b with one another. This bypassing of the steam generator <NUM> allows superheated steam generated directly in the two-phase generator device <NUM> to be supplied directly at a given time without previously passing though the steam generator <NUM>. A very small flow rate of superheated steam is supplied in the cooking chamber <NUM>.

The steam generation system <NUM> also preferably comprises secondary injectors <NUM> in the cooking chamber <NUM> configured for being able to introduce the fluid leaving the steam generator <NUM> directly into the cooking chamber <NUM>. The secondary injectors <NUM> are arranged such that they are connected to secondary injection points <NUM> comprised in the cooking chamber <NUM>. Said secondary injection points <NUM> are arranged in the central and/or lower part of the side walls 4b of the cooking chamber <NUM>.

Like the injector <NUM> of the two-phase generator device <NUM>, the secondary injectors <NUM> may be orientable. In particular, each secondary injector <NUM> can be arranged oriented towards the center of the cooking chamber <NUM> or towards the fan blades (not depicted in the figures) housed inside the cooking chamber <NUM>, such that a homogenous distribution of the injected steam takes place. To that end, the control means of the cooking appliance <NUM> control the speed of the fan such that it operates at speeds compatible with the injection of steam.

In another embodiment, each secondary injector <NUM> and/or each injector <NUM> of the two-phase generator device <NUM> can be arranged oriented in a fixed manner towards the center of the cooking chamber <NUM> or towards the fan blades.

Moreover, the steam generation system <NUM> comprises control means <NUM> and <NUM>, configured for controlling the temperature of the fluid at all times and enabling efficient control of the steam generation system <NUM> and, moreover, for preventing excessive temperatures from being reached in the steam generator <NUM> and in the two-phase generator device <NUM>, respectively, which may damage or deteriorate them. These control means <NUM> and <NUM> are capable of rapidly detecting temperature changes of the fluid in the steam generator <NUM> and in the two-phase generator device <NUM>, respectively, which allows rapidly acting on the control of the cooking appliance <NUM>. The control means <NUM> and <NUM> comprise a thermistor <NUM> and <NUM> housed respectively inside the steam generator <NUM> and the two-phase device <NUM>, and a metal casing <NUM> and <NUM> enveloping the respective thermistor <NUM> and <NUM>. Both the thermistor <NUM> and <NUM> and the respective casing <NUM> and <NUM> are housed at least partially inside the steam generator <NUM> and the two-phase device <NUM>, respectively. The metal casings <NUM> and <NUM> are stainless. In a preferred embodiment, the thermistors <NUM> and <NUM> are NTC or PTC thermistors.

In the two-phase generator device <NUM>, the thermistor <NUM> and the metal casing <NUM> are preferably arranged such that they are housed at least partially inside one of the deflectors <NUM> of the two-phase generator device <NUM>. In particular, they are arranged such that they are housed in the deflector <NUM> located closest to the fluid inlet of the two-phase generator device <NUM>. To that end, the deflector <NUM> comprises a corresponding housing 24b. The metal casing <NUM> is stainless. Given that in the two-phase device <NUM> the behavior of the water is unstable when the fluid circulates very rapidly at different temperatures and flow rates, when the control means <NUM> are housed inside one of the deflectors <NUM>, said deflector <NUM> protects the control means <NUM> against very rapid and unstable temperature variations, which enables slowing down detection.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, in the steam generator <NUM>, the casing <NUM> is in contact with the circulating water. The corresponding control means <NUM> are not arranged such that they are housed in a deflector because the rapid variation in temperatures of the fluid is not considered to be as critical as in the case of the two-phase generator device <NUM>. In other non-depicted embodiments, the control means <NUM> may be housed inside a deflector <NUM> of the steam generator <NUM> for enhanced safety.

The control means <NUM> and <NUM> further comprise a non-depicted solid-state relay connected to the corresponding solenoid valve 7a and 7b and configured for rapidly switching, by electrically disconnecting the two-phase generator device <NUM> and/or the steam generator <NUM> when a temperature greater than a predetermined limit temperature is detected and reconnecting it when the temperature drops below the limit temperature.

Lastly, the steam generation system <NUM> comprises safety thermostats <NUM> and <NUM>, arranged in the steam generator <NUM> and in the two-phase generator device <NUM>, respectively, the function of which is to provide electrical and thermal protection for the cooking appliance <NUM>. That is, should the control means <NUM> and <NUM> fail, or should control of the cooking appliance <NUM> be lost for various reasons, the safety thermostats <NUM> and <NUM> would cut off the power supply to the rest of the cooking appliance <NUM>, preventing accidents or even fires. The safety thermostats <NUM> and <NUM> are arranged respectively on the outside of the respective body <NUM> and <NUM> of the steam generator <NUM> and of the two-phase generator device <NUM>. In particular, they are arranged such that they are fixed close to the respective outlet of the steam generator <NUM> and of the two-phase generator device <NUM>. In a preferred embodiment, the safety thermostats <NUM> and <NUM> are bi-metal thermostats.

Moreover, another aspect of the invention is a method for operating the cooking appliance <NUM> comprising the steam generation system <NUM> described above.

The operating method according to the invention comprises at least one steaming operating mode comprising a first rapid heating phase, in which the two-phase generator device <NUM> operates at least at about <NUM>% of its maximum heating capacity and the steam generator <NUM> operates at least at about <NUM>% of its maximum heating capacity until a setpoint temperature is reached in the cooking chamber <NUM>, and a second stationary phase which starts when the setpoint temperature is reached in the cooking chamber <NUM>, in which the steam generator <NUM> operates at least at about <NUM>% of its maximum heating capacity, and the two-phase generator device <NUM> operates at least at about <NUM>% of its maximum capacity and injects superheated steam into the cooking chamber <NUM>.

Throughout the document, heating capacity of the two-phase generator device and/or of the steam generator is understood to be the electrical energy introduced into the two-phase device and/or into the steam generator (i.e., electric power) minus the thermal losses produced in the corresponding two-phase device and/or steam generator, said thermal losses being dynamic over time.

Moreover, in this operating mode, the corresponding two-phase generator device <NUM> does not inject superheated steam inside the cooking chamber <NUM> until the setpoint temperature has been reached inside the cooking chamber <NUM>. In this operating mode, the steam generated in the steam generator <NUM> is not injected into the cooking chamber <NUM> but rather goes to the two-phase generator device <NUM>.

According to this operating mode, steaming can be performed for example with intermediate-temperature moisture or with high-temperature moisture. When steaming with intermediate-temperature moisture in the first rapid heating phase, the two-phase generator device <NUM> operates at about <NUM>% of its maximum heating capacity and the steam generator <NUM> operates at about <NUM>% of its maximum heating capacity until the established setpoint temperature is reached, and in the second stationary phase, which starts when the setpoint temperature is reached in the cooking chamber <NUM>, the steam generator <NUM> operates between about <NUM>% and about <NUM>% of its maximum heating capacity, and the two-phase generator device <NUM> operates between about <NUM>% and about <NUM>% of its capacity and injects superheated steam into the cooking chamber <NUM>.

In an embodiment of steaming with intermediate-temperature moisture, the setpoint temperature of the cooking chamber <NUM> is less than about <NUM>, said temperature preferably being between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. The corresponding two-phase generator device <NUM> does not inject superheated steam into the cooking chamber <NUM> until the established setpoint temperature has been reached inside the cooking chamber <NUM>. The steam generated in the steam generator <NUM> is not injected into the cooking chamber <NUM> but rather goes to the two-phase generator device <NUM>.

When steaming with high-temperature moisture, in the first rapid heating phase, the two-phase generator device <NUM> operates at about <NUM>% of its maximum heating capacity and the steam generator <NUM> operates at about <NUM>% of its maximum heating capacity until the setpoint temperature is reached, and in the second stationary phase, which starts when the setpoint temperature is reached, the steam generator <NUM> operates between about <NUM>% and about <NUM>% of its maximum heating capacity and the two-phase generator device <NUM> operates between about <NUM>% and about <NUM>% of its maximum heating capacity and injects superheated steam into the cooking chamber <NUM>.

When steaming with high-temperature moisture, the setpoint temperature of the cooking chamber <NUM> is greater than the setpoint temperature of the cooking chamber <NUM> for steaming with intermediate-temperature moisture. In an embodiment in the case of steaming with high-temperature moisture, the setpoint temperature is less than about <NUM>, said temperature preferably being between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. In this case, the corresponding two-phase generator device <NUM> does not inject superheated steam into the cooking chamber <NUM> until the corresponding setpoint temperature has been reached inside the cooking chamber <NUM>. The steam generated in the steam generator <NUM> is not injected into the cooking chamber <NUM> but rather goes to the two-phase generator device <NUM>.

The operating method according to the invention preferably comprises an additional steaming operating mode, corresponding to low-temperature steaming, wherein the steam generator <NUM> is in operation and the two-phase generator device <NUM> remains switched off, steam being injected into the cooking chamber <NUM> through the two-phase generator device <NUM> and/or through at least one secondary injector <NUM> connected to an additional injection point <NUM> of the cooking chamber <NUM>. Superheated steam is not injected into the cooking chamber <NUM>, with steam being supplied through the secondary injectors <NUM> arranged at the additional steam injection points <NUM> once the setpoint temperature has been reached in the cooking chamber <NUM>. Said additional injection points <NUM> are arranged in the central part and/or in the lower part of the chamber <NUM>.

In an embodiment of this additional mode, the setpoint temperature of the cooking chamber <NUM> is less than about <NUM>, said temperature preferably being between about <NUM> and about <NUM>.

Regardless of the operating mode chosen by the user, prior to generating steam, the operating method comprises a partial filling step for partially filling the steam generator <NUM> with water, for which purpose the drive means <NUM> are operated for partially filling said steam generator <NUM>, and a subsequent heating step for the purpose of heating the steam generator <NUM>. In this heating step, the two-phase generator device <NUM> is not in operation and the water heated through the steam generator <NUM> is introduced in the chamber <NUM> through the injectors <NUM> arranged at the additional injection points <NUM>.

In any of the operating modes, once the established setpoint temperature has been reached, the cycling of the two-phase generator device <NUM> and of the steam generator <NUM> is controlled so as to maintain said setpoint temperature through PWM controls, PID controls, or the like, depending on the cooking requirements. Electric controls allowing electrical energy to be supplied uniformly will preferably be used, such as power semiconductors or the like.

The steam generation system <NUM> injects superheated steam at a constant flow rate between about <NUM>/minute and about <NUM>/minute.

Lastly, when any of the safety thermostats <NUM> and <NUM> detects a temperature greater than <NUM>, both the two-phase generator device <NUM> and the steam generator <NUM> are no longer supplied electrical power. In an embodiment, the drive means <NUM> are stopped so that water does not circulate. In another embodiment, the drive means <NUM> transition to operating in refrigeration mode such that water circulates to the steam generator <NUM> and/or to the two-phase generator device <NUM> for the maximum temperature detected to drop to a temperature regarded as being safe. At that time, the steam generation system <NUM> will restart the cycle that was interrupted for safety reasons. When the drive means <NUM> transition to operating in refrigeration mode, the control of the cooking appliance <NUM> can cause the solenoid valve 7a to switch such that it prevents the passage of water towards the steam generator <NUM>, diverting the water directly towards the two-phase generator device <NUM> through the conduit <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Steam generation system adapted to a cooking appliance (<NUM>), the cooking appliance (<NUM>) comprising a cooking chamber (<NUM>) comprising at least one steam injection point (<NUM>) through which steam is injected into the cooking chamber (<NUM>), the steam generation system (<NUM>) comprising a water reservoir (<NUM>) and a steam generator (<NUM>) communicated with the water reservoir (<NUM>) and configured for heating water arriving from the water reservoir (<NUM>), characterized in that it comprises at least a two-phase generator device (<NUM>) arranged each two-phase generator device (<NUM>) at the corresponding steam injection point (<NUM>), the two-phase generator device (<NUM>) being communicated with the steam generator (<NUM>) and configured for generating superheated steam and injecting it into the cooking chamber (<NUM>) through the corresponding steam injection point (<NUM>), from the hot water or steam generated in the steam generator (<NUM>), the two-phase generator device (<NUM>) being removable.