GB2629682A

GB2629682A - Heat storage stove, controller, and method

Info

Publication number: GB2629682A
Application number: GB2407765.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Smith James; Comben Daniel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2024-05-31
Filing date: 2024-05-31
Publication date: 2024-11-06
Also published as: GB202407765D0

Abstract

An electric stove 20 comprises a thermal storage medium (11, Fig. 1) in a cavity 13 surrounded by insulation 22, and a heating element (14, Fig. 1) heats the thermal storage medium. An insulated door 23 is opened to expose a surface of the thermal storage medium. The heating element may be embedded in the thermal storage medium. The heating element may heat the thermal storage medium when the door is closed, and an auxiliary heating element (41, Fig. 4) on the surface may heat the thermal storage medium when the door is open. The surface of the thermal storage medium may be curved, textured, or matt black. Layers of air or a material having a high thermal conductivity may be formed in the thermal storage medium or in the cavity between the thermal storage medium and the insulation. A fan in the cavity or near to the surface of the thermal storage medium may be operated while the door is open. A method of controlling an electric stove by setting a temperature or time, and a controller are also claimed.

Description

HEAT STORAGE STOVE, CONTOLLER, AND METHOD

BACKGROUND Field of Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a heat storage stove capable of providing low-cost and substantially zero-emission heating in a domestic environment.

Description of Related Art

The "background'. description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly or impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention.

Heating systems, and in particular those for use in domestic settings, are ubiquitous almost everywhere around the world. Such heating systems are used to raise and/or maintain a temperature within a domestic setting at a level that is higher than the ambient temperature, and can be provided in various implementations. Examples of such implementations include central heating systems and heat pumps for wider or distributed heating around an entire house or building, and heat stoves for more local heating within a room or smaller portion of a home.

Heat storage stoves are well-known types of (typically wood or solid fuel burning) heat stoves, which utilise materials capable of thermal storage, radiative emissivity and convection of heat at relatively stable and constant levels as compared to other types of heat stoves such as wood burners. Not only are such heat storage stoves capable of providing stable heating, but are often able to do so at a relatively lower cost and environmental impact when compared to other means of domestic heating such as central heating systems.

However, an issue with such existing storage heaters is that the heating of the thermal storage materials and the provision of heat to the domestic setting in which the stoves are situated are typically performed together. While this enables the provision of heating at a desired stable and constant temperature, it isn't as controllable because the heat generated cannot be stored for a sufficiently long period of time. The heat loss to the outside of the room in which the stove is located, or to the outside of the house or building the stove is located (particularly when the insulation of such a building is not at a high level) means energy input is required for the stove to maintain the desired temperature. Furthermore, since such heat storage stoves are designed to release heat during and after the heating of the storage medium, it is difficult to "turn off' the stove when heating of the room is no longer desired. Such heat storage stoves are therefore also often not able to store heat for future heating, as this is gradually released via thermal radiation, conduction and convection as the heat storage medium cools.

Embodiments of the present disclosure therefore seek to provide a heat storage stove that addresses many of the above-identified issues with existing heat storage stoves, so as to provide a stove that is cost and performance efficient, effective, and environmentally friendly.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure can help address or mitigate at least some of the issues discussed above.

Embodiments of the present technique can provide an electric stove comprising a thermal storage medium fully surrounded by insulation, one or more heating elements, and one or more insulated doors. The thermal storage medium is disposed within a cavity of the insulation, and the heating elements are configured to heat the thermal storage medium. The insulated doors are configured to be opened, after the thermal storage medium has been heated by the heating elements, to expose at least one surface of the thermal storage medium from the insulation that surrounds it, thereby heating the room in which the electric stove is located Such embodiments of the present technique, which, in addition to electric stoves, relate to controllers for electric stoves and methods for controlling electric stoves, can allow for cost effective and substantially zero-emission heating in a domestic environment. Such embodiments of the present technique also allow the use of environmentally friendlier electricity to heat the thermal storage medium compared to stoves that burn gas or solid fuel such as wood, the burning of which results in particulates and other toxins being released into the air. Furthermore, because the thermal storage medium can be heated overnight and stored for long period of time before it is later opened and used to heat a room, it is possible to heat the storage medium more cheaply than existing stoves that require constant burning of fuels.

Respective aspects and features of the present disclosure are defined in the appended claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the present technology. The described embodiments, together with further advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a first example of a heat storage stove in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technique; Figure 2 illustrates a second example of a heat storage stove with sliding doors in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technique; Figure 3 illustrates a third example of a heat storage stove with hinged doors in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technique; Figure 4 shows an example in which an auxiliary heating element may be provided on a surface 20 of a thermal storage medium of the heat storage stove in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technique; Figure 5 shows an example in which the heat storage stove may be provided with a safety gauze to prevent burns or injuries when the door(s) are open in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technique; and Figure 6 illustrates how radiant and convective heat loss of the thermal storage medium of the heat storage stove changes with respect to stove temperature in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 illustrates a first example of a heat storage stove 10 in accordance with at least some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique. The heat storage stove 10 comprises a thermal storage medium 11 within the stove, surrounded on all sides by insulating walls 12, such that the thermal storage medium 11 is situated within a cavity 13 formed by the insulated walls 12. The thermal storage medium 11 may fill or substantially fill the entire cavity 13, or may take up a large portion of the cavity's 13 space without completely filling it as shown in the example of Figure 1. The heat storage stove 10 also comprises one or more electric heating elements 14 configured to heat the thermal storage medium 11. The heating elements 14 may in some arrangements be embedded within the thermal storage medium 11, though in other arrangements, the heating arrangements 14 may be disposed in the cavity 13 adjacent to (and either in contact with or spaced slightly apart from) the thermal storage medium 11.

The heat storage stove 10 according to embodiments of the present technique is designed to release, when in use, sufficient energy to heat a room (or a number of rooms or small area) of a house or other domestic environment, in order to make that room warm and cosy in a similar way to a wood burner. The heat storage stove 10 may also be used outside, to provide radiative heating to a limited area, though of course the heat will dissipate much faster than if the heat storage stove 10 was used inside. The heat storage stove 10 is therefore a zero (or substantially zero) emission alternative to wood or fossil-fuel burning domestic stoves, incorporating high-temperature energy storage to maximise radiative heat transfer whilst minimising carbon dioxide emissions and running costs. The combination of high performance insulation and high temperature heat provides high levels of infrared radiant heat (similar to that of a wood burning stove) whilst allowing low carbon/low cost electricity to be used during periods of low demand.

Figure 2 illustrates a second example of a heat storage stove 20 in accordance with at least some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique. The heat storage stove 20 of Figure 2 is substantially similar to the heat storage stove 10 of Figure 1, and so the description of corresponding parts is the same for the heat storage stove 20 of Figure 2 as for the heat storage stove 10 of Figure 1 as described above. In the example of Figure 2, it can be seen that the insulating walls 12 may be formed of a heat storage casing or box 21 which is filled or surrounds a high thermal resistance insulating material 22 which itself fully surrounds the cavity 13 in which the thermal storage medium 11 (not shown in the example of Figure 2) is situated. In other arrangements, instead of the insulating walls 12 formed of a casing or box 21 filled with insulation 22, the walls (and top and bottom) of the heat storage stove 20 may be formed by an insulating material, such as insulating millboard, or of a mixture (e.g. layers) of temperature resistant insulation (e.g. insulating millboard) and insulation that is less temperature resistant but less thermally conductive (e.g. vacuum insulation or Celotex).

The heat storage stove 20 may comprise one or more doors 23. For simplicity and consistency, two doors 23 are illustrated in the example of Figure 2, though in other arrangements there may only be a single door 23. The doors 23 may be made of the same or a similar construction to the casing 21, and may be filled with insulation 24 so as to ensure the doors 23 are also insulated.

Here, the insulated doors 23 may be connected to the casing 21 via rails (not shown in Figure 2) to enable the doors 23 to easily slide apart from each other to be opened and slide towards each other to be shut (e.g. along a horizontal plane as shown in Figure 2 or along a vertical plane). The doors 23 may comprise a holding mechanism, such as a lock, latch, or magnets or the like, to ensure that the doors 23 -and the insulating casing 21 in general -are fully sealed when the doors 23 are shut to ensure greater efficiency and lower heat loss. The doors 23 may be configured to be opened to expose at least one surface of the thermal storage medium 11 (i.e. the surface visible through the opened doors 23) to outside of the insulated heat stove 20 so as to provide a heat output, thereby heating the local surroundings of the stove 20.

The insulating walls 12 may enable the heat storage stove to store heat for a timescale of a number of days when the stove is not in operation, thus allowing for heat output from the stove to be provided open opening the doors 23 even after the doors 23 have been shut (and the heating elements 14 have not been turned on) for an extended period of time.

Figure 3 illustrates a third example of a heat storage stove 30 in accordance with at least some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique. The heat storage stove 30 of Figure 2 is substantially similar to the heat storage stoves 10, 20 of Figures 1 and 2, and so the description of corresponding parts is the same for the heat storage stove 30 of Figure 3 as for the heat storage stoves 10, 20 of Figures 1 and 2 as described above. Here, the heat storage stove 30 may comprise hinged doors 33 (which may be filled with or formed of an insulating material 34) rather than the sliding doors 23 of the heat storage stove 20 of Figure 2. Here, the insulated doors 33 may be connected to the casing 21 via hinges (not shown in Figure 2) to enable the doors 33 to easily swing open and shut about the hinges. The doors 33, as in the example of Figure 2, may comprise a holding mechanism, such as a lock, latch, or magnets or the like, to ensure that the doors 33 -and the insulating casing 21 in general -are fully sealed when the doors 33 are shut to ensure greater efficiency and lower heat loss. Again, the doors 33 may be configured to be opened to expose at least one surface of the thermal storage medium 11 (i.e. the surface visible through the opened doors 33) to outside of the insulated heat stove 30 so as to provide a heat output, thereby heating the local surroundings of the stove 30. The hinged doors 33 may be formed of two doors as shown in the example of Figure 3, or may be a single hinged door, and may be configured to open horizontally, as shown in Figure 3, or vertically, for example. In some arrangements, the inner surface of the hinged doors 33 may be made of any appropriate material (e.g. steel) such that the inner surface gets hot as the stove 30 is heated and the hinged doors 33 emit heat into the room when they are opened.

In some arrangements of embodiments of the present disclosure, such as those illustrated by Figures 1, 2, and 3, the thermal storage medium 11 may be any appropriate material that has a high specific heat capacity, a high radiative emissivity, and high thermal conductivity. An example of such an appropriate material may be natural stone chosen for heat retention and conduction properties, where such stone may be basalt, sandstone, marble, soapstone or the like. Other examples of such appropriate materials include concrete (such as a high density hematite concrete), ceramic, sand, a liquid or gel, or metals such as iron or steel. In some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, the thermal storage medium 11 may comprise a mixture of materials. For example, the thermal storage medium may comprise stone or concrete, but with a cast iron or steel front panel and cast iron rods or plates running horizontally through the stone or concrete to increase the thermal conductivity and hence the rate of heat output.

The surface of the thermal storage medium 11 (i.e. the surface visible through the opened doors 23, 33) may be curved, and/or textured, and/or painted/coated (matt) black. This can enable higher radiative emissivity from the exposed surface of the thermal storage medium 11. As described above, the surface of the thermal storage medium 11 visible through the opened doors 23, 33 may be a panel made of iron or steel that is coupled or connected to the thermal storage medium 11 which is otherwise stone or concrete or the like. Again, this can enable higher radiative emissivity from the exposed surface of the thermal storage medium 11.

The (one or more) electric heating elements 14 enable the thermal storage medium 11 to be heated internally to a desired temperature (of the order of 473°K or greater), and are controlled by thermostats or the like. The electric heating elements 14 may be powered by mains power, with a power cable running between the heating elements 14 and a plug through a fully sealed and insulated hole in the insulated walls 12. Generally, the heating elements 14 are only turned on (and thus only heat the thermal storage medium 11) while the doors 23, 33 are closed, in order to ensure efficiency of the heat storage stove 10, 20, 30, but the heating elements 14 may be in some arrangements be configured to operate (at least intermittently) while the doors 23, 33 are open, in order to reduce heat loss of the thermal storage medium 11 if the stove is being used with the doors 23, 33 open for an extended period of time.

The thermostat may be set by a user of the stove, in respect of one or both of a desired temperature to heat the thermal storage medium 11 and a time either at which the thermal storage medium 11 is either to reach a desired temperature that is either pre-set or set specifically by the user along with the time, or a time at which the doors 23, 33 are to be opened -either automatically or by the user -in order for the stove to output heat. The heating of the thermal storage medium 11 by the heating elements 14 may be configured to start at a later point in time after the doors are closed, so as to ensure that the set temperature is reached by a set time or the like, or may be started upon the doors being closed, and maintained at a set temperature until a set time. If no setting of the thermostat has been performed by the user, the heating elements may stay turned off when the doors 23, 33 are shut to reduce wasted energy in heating the thermal storage medium 11 in the case that the stove may not be used again for some time, or there may be a small amount of heating of the thermal storage medium 11 by the heating elements 14 to maintain the temperature at a certain level to reduce the time taken for the stove to come up to the desired temperature the next time it is used.

The user may set the thermostat via a controller, which may be disposed on an outside of the casing of the heat storage stove (i.e. as buttons or knobs) or may be a remote controller that is able to communicate with the heating elements 14 via a short-range communications protocol such as Bluetooth. Alternatively, the controller may be an application for a mobile phone, laptop, or other user device that is communicably coupled (e.g. via Bluetooth or WiFi) to the heating elements 14. The controller may also be communicably connected to a door control mechanism 23, 33, such that the doors can be opened automatically (e.g. upon a desired set temperature or time being reached) or by use of the controller by the user.

In some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, the heat storage stove 10, 20, 30 may comprise an auxiliary heating element located on the surface (i.e. the surface that is exposed upon the doors 23, 33 opening) of the thermal storage medium 11. This is shown in Figure 4.

The auxiliary heating element 41 is configured to provide heat output while the doors 23, 33 are opened. This heat output is generally not intended to be significant, certainly, not compared to the heat output of the thermal storage medium 11 itself, but the heat output from the auxiliary heating element 41 may be of greater significance as the thermal storage medium 11 cools after the doors 23, 33 have been open for an extended period of time. The auxiliary heating element 41 may be configured to be heated to a temperature sufficient to cause it to glow (i.e. approximately 600°C), thus providing a cosmetic effect of reassuring a user that the stove is in operation in addition to the warmth emanating from the auxiliary heating element 41 via radiative and convective heat transfer.

In some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, the heat storage stove 10, 20, 30 may comprise one or more layers formed of air and/or a material having a high thermal conductivity formed within the cavity between the thermal storage medium and the insulation or within the thermal storage medium itself The layers (e.g. of steel and air) can help ensure the heat that is released by the thermal storage medium 11 is pumped out of the front of the stove via the opened doors 23, 33 by increasing convection of heat in air. The layers (e.g. of steel and/or air) will also have the effect of increasing conduction and/or convection of heat from the back to the front of the heat storage medium. To aid this effect, in some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, the heat storage stove 10, 20, 30 may further comprise a fan element positioned in the cavity or below the exposed surface of the storage medium, where the fan element may be configured to operate while the insulated doors are open. The fan element may be located at the back of the cavity, behind where the thermal storage medium 11 is located, or adjacent to (e.g. below) the exposed surface of the storage medium to aid in maximising the heat output of the heat storage stove by increasing heat loss through convection in addition to thermal radiation.

In some arrangements of embodiments of the present disclosure, the exposed surface of the heat storage stove (i.e. either in front of the doors or behind the doors when opened) may comprise a safety net or gauze 51, as shown in Figure 5. The safety net/gauze 51 prevents users of the stove from being able to reach inside and touch the thermal storage medium, which could otherwise present a burn or injury risk to users, particularly children.

In some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, the heat storage stove 10, 20, 30, may comprise wheels and/or one or more handles affixed to its outside, enable its portability.

Furthermore, in some arrangements of embodiments of the present technique, the door or doors 23, 33 of the heat storage stove 10, 20, 30, may comprise one or more handles to enable easier opening or closing of the doors 22, 33.

In accordance with embodiments of the present technique, the heating elements 14 may be configured to heat the thermal storage medium 11 to as high as 1000°C, depending on the material(s) used for the thermal storage medium 11, in order to storage and discharge large quantities of heat. However, for general practical applications, heating of the thermal storage medium 11 to temperatures within the range of 200°C to 500°C is envisaged.

Table I below illustrates the heat storage capacity of different materials for a 0.084 in3 block of the thermal storage medium 11 when heated to 553°K. Those skilled in the art would appreciate that the thermal storage medium 11 can be any appropriate size, and the 0.084 m3 block is chosen only for the purposes of illustrating the differing characteristics between various materials. The heat storage of each of the materials shown in Table 1 is sufficient to provide room heating for several hours.

Table I: Illustrative heat stored for 0.084 m3 block of different composition at 553°K where room temperature is assumed to be 296°K Material Specific Heat Density Volumetric Heat Stored Heat Capacity (J.kg 1.K 1) (kg/m3) Capacity (J.K 1.m 3) (kWh) Basalt 840 2900 2436000 14.61 Cast Iron 450 7200 3240000 19.43 Marble 920 2847 2619240 15.71 Assuming, for example insulation of thermal conductivity 0.022 W m-1 K-' and 0.15 in thickness, heat loss over a 24 hour period is around 1 kWh or less, and so for each of the materials, when heated to 553°K, the heat will take between two and three weeks to be substantially fully lost.

When coupled with the highly thermally insulating walls of the heat storage stove, it can be seen how heat can be stored for a vastly extended period of time when compared to existing technologies.

Figure 6 illustrates how radiant and convective heat loss of the thermal storage medium 11 of the heat storage stove 10, 20, 30 changes with respect to stove temperature in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 6 presents modelled radiative and convective heat output of a 0.28 m2 block surface at various temperatures assuming thermal emissivity of 0.9, representative of a matt black surface of a thermal storage medium 11 formed of basalt. The heat output is sufficient to provide room heating. The heat output of Figure 6 is modelled in Watts from a surface of 0.9 thermal emissivity based on the Stefan-Boltzmann law of radiative heat and Newton's Law of Cooling for convective heat loss.

As described above herein then, various arrangements of embodiments of the present technique can provide a heat storage stove for use in a domestic setting and capable of storing electrically generated heat at a high temperature, combined with high levels of insulation enabling the storage of this high temperature over a longer period of time (when compared to wood burning storage stoves). The much higher temperature heat (when compared to night storage radiators) produces significantly more radiative (and convective) heat output leading to a feeling of warmth comparable to that produced by a fossil fuel or standard electric element stove, but in a more efficient and cost effective manner and with effectively zero emissions. The high temperature and hence energy density stored also allows for a much smaller surface area than a standard radiator design, allowing it to replace a traditional stove in design and function.

The following numbered paragraphs provide further example aspects and features of the present technique: Paragraph 1. An electric stove comprising a thermal storage medium disposed within a cavity of a casing surrounded by insulation, one or more heating elements configured to heat the thermal storage medium, and one or more insulated doors formed within the casing, wherein the insulated doors are configured to be opened to expose at least one surface of the thermal storage medium to the outside of the casing.

Paragraph 2. The electric stove of Paragraph 1, wherein the one or more heating elements are 25 embedded within the thermal storage medium.

Paragraph 3. The electric stove of Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 2, wherein the heating elements are configured to heat the thermal storage medium while the insulated doors are closed. Paragraph 4. The electric stove of any of Paragraphs 1 to 3, wherein the insulated doors are connected to the casing via hinges, and wherein the insulated doors are configured to be opened by rotating outwards around the hinges.

Paragraph 5. The electric stove of any of Paragraphs 1 to 4, wherein the insulated doors are configured to be opened by sliding apart with respect to each other.

Paragraph 6. The electric stove of any of Paragraphs 1 to 5, wherein the surface is at least one of: curved, textured, and matt black.

Paragraph 7. The electric stove of any of Paragraphs 1 to 6, further comprising an auxiliary heating element configured to provide heat output while the insulated doors are open.

Paragraph 8. The electric stove of any of Paragraphs 1 to 7, further comprising one or more layers formed of air and/or a material having a high thermal conductivity, wherein the one or more layers are formed either within the thermal storage medium or within the cavity between the thermal storage medium and the insulation.

Paragraph 9. The electric stove of any of Paragraphs 1 to 8, further comprising a fan element positioned in the cavity and/or adjacent to the surface of the thermal storage medium and configured to operate while the insulated doors are open.

Paragraph 10. A controller for the electric stove of any of Paragraphs 1 to 9, wherein the controller is configured to receive a user input of a temperature and/or a time in accordance with which the thermal storage medium is to be heated by the heating elements while the insulated doors are 15 closed.

Paragraph 11. The controller of Paragraph 10, wherein the controller is disposed on an outside of the casing.

Paragraph 12. The controller of Paragraph 10 or Paragraph 11, wherein the controller s a remote controller which is communicably coupled to the one or more heating elements.

Paragraph 13. The controller of any of Paragraphs 10 to 12, wherein the controller is an application for a terminal device, the terminal device being communicably coupled to the one or more heating elements.

Paragraph 14. A method for controlling an electric stove, comprising setting, using a controller, a temperature and/or a time in accordance with which a thermal storage medium disposed within a cavity of a casing surrounded by insulation is to be heated by one or more heating elements, wherein the heating elements are configured to heat the thermal storage medium while one or more insulated doors formed within the casing are closed. Paragraph 15. The method of Paragraph 14, further comprising opening the insulated doors to expose at least one surface of the thermal storage medium to the outside of the casing.

As used herein, the terms "a" or "an" shall mean one or more than one. The term "plurality" shall mean two or more than two. The term "another" is defined as a second or more. The terms "including" and/or "having" are open ended (e.g., comprising). Reference throughout this document to "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "certain embodiments", "an embodiment" or similar term means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of such phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner on one or more embodiments without limitation. The term "or" as used herein is to be interpreted as inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, "A, B or C" means "any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C". An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.

While the invention has been described in connection with specific examples and various embodiments, with reference to different functional units and apparatus, it should be readily understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications and adaptations of the embodiments described herein are possible without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art therefore that any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional units or apparatus may be used without detracting from the embodiments. Thus, it is to be clearly understood that this application is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of the invention claimed below. The description is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptation of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention, and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known and customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains, within the scope of the appended claims.

Various further aspects and features of the present technique are defined in the appended claims.

Various modifications may be made to the embodiments hereinbefore described within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is: 1. An electric stove comprising a thermal storage medium disposed within a cavity of a casing surrounded by insulation, one or more heating elements configured to heat the thermal storage medium, and one or more insulated doors formed within the casing, wherein the insulated doors are configured to be opened to expose at least one surface of the thermal storage medium to the outside of the casing.
2. The electric stove of Claim 1, wherein the one or more heating elements are embedded within the thermal storage medium.
3. The electric stove of Claim 1, wherein the heating elements are configured to heat the thermal storage medium while the insulated doors are closed.
4. The electric stove of Claim 1, wherein the insulated doors are connected to the casing via hinges, and wherein the insulated doors are configured to be opened by rotating outwards around the hinges.
5. The electric stove of Claim 1, wherein the insulated doors are configured to be opened by sliding apart with respect to each other.
6. The electric stove of Claim 1, wherein the surface is at least one of: curved, textured, and matt black.
7. The electric stove of Claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary heating element configured to provide heat output while the insulated doors are open.
8. The electric stove of Claim 1, further comprising one or more layers formed of air and/or a material having a high thermal conductivity, wherein the one or more layers are formed either within the thermal storage medium or within the cavity between the thermal storage medium and the insulation.
9. The electric stove of Claim 1, further comprising a fan element positioned in the cavity and/or adjacent to the surface of the thermal storage medium and configured to operate while the insulated doors are open.
10. A controller for the electric stove of Claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive a user input of a temperature and/or a time in accordance with which the thermal storage medium is to be heated by the heating elements while the insulated doors are closed.
11. The controller of Claim 10, wherein the controller is disposed on an outside of the casing.
12. The controller of Claim 10, wherein the controller is a remote controller which is communicably coupled to the one or more heating elements.
13. The controller of Claim 10, wherein the controller is an application for a terminal device, the terminal device being communicably coupled to the one or more heating elements.
14. A method for controlling an electric stove, comprising setting, using a controller, a temperature and/or a time in accordance with which a thermal storage medium disposed within a cavity of a casing surrounded by insulation is to be heated by one or more heating elements, wherein the heating elements are configured to heat the thermal storage medium while one or more insulated doors formed within the casing are closed.
15. The method of Claim 14, further comprising opening the insulated doors to expose at least one surface of the thermal storage medium to the outside of the casing.