With a little bit of rocket science and the motivation to innovate the traditional cookware, scientists at the University of Oxford in England created a pan 40% more efficient in terms of heat conduction based on research conducted by the Department of Engineering of the University. The “Flare Pan” was recently launched on to the market by Lakeland, a famous British kitchenware chain.
The research, headed by Prof. Thomas Povey, applied the principles of high-efficiency cooling systems for jet engines to a simple domestic product – a saucepan. The new pans accelerate heat transfer, saving a a substantial amount of time and energy. Made from cast aluminum and incorporating ‘FIN-X’ patented technology, the FLARE pans are more effective in gas stoves, estimated to be used by more than two thirds of the UK.
The pans feature a unique design that allows the expansion of the heat from the flame around the bottom and sides of the pan, resulting in a more efficient and even heat distribution. This means that the pan heats up very quickly and cooks food faster, saving time and using far less energy. Research indicates that conventional pans require 40% more energy to heat up than a Flare pan.
“The problem with the current shape of the pan means a lot of the heat is dissipated into the air,” Povey told the Telegraph newspaper in Britain. “So, it is an aerodynamic and heat-transfer problem, and we applied the science used in rocket and jet engines to create a shape of a pan that is more energy efficient. So, it is a very similar problem but it certainly is a different product than what we’re used to working on.”
Even before its official launch, the pots have become an award winning product. The Worshipful Company of Engineers, a British professional group, awarded Professor Povey and his team the ‘Hawley Award 2014′ for “the most outstanding engineering innovation that delivers demonstrable benefit to the environment.”
Source and Images: [LA Times]
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