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CFE 105
Term 2
3 credits

Commercial Steamers, Combi Ovens, and Advanced Electronic Controls

This course prepares commercial equipment technicians to install, diagnose, and maintain atmospheric and pressurized steam cooking platforms as well as combination convection-steam ovens. Technicians analyze water quality dynamics, scale prevention technologies, steam generation assemblies, injection systems, and precise humidity control circuits. The curriculum emphasizes digital electronics, detailing microcontroller architecture, sensor networks, solid-state switching, and communication bus diagnostics utilized in automated food production equipment. Learners develop field-ready competencies in decoding error codes, interpreting complex schematic wiring diagrams, calibrating temperature and humidity sensors, and servicing electro-mechanical venting assemblies. Emphasizing safety and factory-grade diagnostic procedures, students practice systematic fault isolation on live training systems to resolve complex component-level failures. Through intensive hands-on lab sessions and simulated commercial kitchen service calls, participants build the necessary technical confidence to troubleshoot sophisticated electronic cooking controls, multi-stage cooking sequences, and integrated boiler systems efficiently.

InstructorJacob Calhoun

Prerequisites

Course outline

Lectures, virtual labs, and graded assignments — completed in your browser.

01Lesson 1: Steam Thermodynamics, Water Treatment, and Scale Chemistrylecture
02Lesson 2: Atmospheric and Pressure Steamers: Generation and Delivery Systemslecture
03Lesson 3: Water Level Sensing, Fill Valves, and Automatic Blowdown Controlslecture
04Hands-on Lab: Hands-On Lab: Boiler Inspection, Descaling, and Level Probe Servicelab
05Lesson 5: Combi Oven Architecture: Airflow, Heating Modes, and Cavity Dynamicslecture
06Lesson 6: Steam Injection versus Boiler-Based Combi Generation and Humidity Regulationlecture
07Lesson 7: Microprocessor Controls, Power Supplies, and Digital User Interfaceslecture
08Hands-on Lab: Hands-On Lab: Combi Sensor Calibration and Humidity System Diagnosticslab
09Lesson 9: Solid-State Relays, Variable Frequency Drives, and Reversing Fan Motorslecture
10Lesson 10: Automated Cavity Cleaning Systems, Chemical Dosing, and Drain Quench Circuitslecture
11Hands-on Lab: Hands-On Lab: Control Board Troubleshooting and Digital Bus Signal Tracinglab
12Lesson 12: Multi-Point Core Temperature Probes and Fault Code Isolationlecture
13Lesson 13: Preventative Maintenance Protocols and Gas Combi Combustion Analysislecture
14Capstone Service Project: Comprehensive Combi Fault Diagnosis and Commissioningassignment

Syllabus

["Week 1: Lesson 1: Steam Thermodynamics, Water Treatment, and Scale Chemistry", "Week 2: Lesson 2: Atmospheric and Pressure Steamers: Generation and Delivery Systems", "Week 3: Lesson 3: Water Level Sensing, Fill Valves, and Automatic Blowdown Controls", "Week 4: Hands-on Lab: Hands-On Lab: Boiler Inspection, Descaling, and Level Probe Service", "Week 5: Lesson 5: Combi Oven Architecture: Airflow, Heating Modes, and Cavity Dynamics", "Week 6: Lesson 6: Steam Injection versus Boiler-Based Combi Generation and Humidity Regulation", "Week 7: Lesson 7: Microprocessor Controls, Power Supplies, and Digital User Interfaces", "Week 8: Hands-on Lab: Hands-On Lab: Combi Sensor Calibration and Humidity System Diagnostics", "Week 9: Lesson 9: Solid-State Relays, Variable Frequency Drives, and Reversing Fan Motors", "Week 10: Lesson 10: Automated Cavity Cleaning Systems, Chemical Dosing, and Drain Quench Circuits", "Week 11: Hands-on Lab: Hands-On Lab: Control Board Troubleshooting and Digital Bus Signal Tracing", "Week 12: Lesson 12: Multi-Point Core Temperature Probes and Fault Code Isolation", "Week 13: Lesson 13: Preventative Maintenance Protocols and Gas Combi Combustion Analysis", "Week 14: Capstone Service Project: Comprehensive Combi Fault Diagnosis and Commissioning"]