A shower room suitable for use in a deep-sea manned enclosed environment

By using thermoelectric cooling technology to achieve temperature regulation and humidity control in the shower room of deep-sea manned equipment, the problems of excessively cold temperature and excessively high humidity in the shower room are solved, improving shower comfort and reducing energy consumption.

CN116558016BActive Publication Date: 2026-04-03CHINA SHIP SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CENTER +1
View PDF 1 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-06-13
Publication Date
2026-04-03

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In deep-sea manned equipment, the shower room is too cold and the humidity is too high, which affects the comfort of showering and increases the burden of humidity control in the cabin.

Method used

Thermoelectric cooling technology is used to provide heat and cold sources through thermoelectric stacks, so as to realize the circulation, dehumidification and temperature regulation of air in the shower room, and reduce energy consumption by utilizing waste heat and waste cold.

Benefits of technology

Without adding equipment, improve shower comfort, reduce the burden of cabin humidity control, reduce energy consumption, and reduce equipment burden.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure CN116558016B_ABST
    Figure CN116558016B_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

This invention relates to a pulsed steam superheating system for a shower room suitable for use in a deep-sea manned enclosed environment. The system includes a shower room shell; a duct system comprising a top cavity, a return air duct, a return air inlet, and an exhaust outlet; and multiple thermopile units connected to the duct system and the shower room shell, respectively, for releasing heat into the shower room shell and releasing cold energy to the duct system to condense water vapor. This invention features a compact and rational structure, is easy to operate, and utilizes thermoelectric cooling technology to dehumidify the high-humidity air inside the shower room. It also utilizes the waste heat generated by cooling to raise the shower room temperature. This allows the system to meet the heating needs of personnel showering in a deep-sea manned enclosed environment without the need for additional heating or air drying equipment, improving shower comfort, accelerating condensation evaporation, and utilizing waste heat and cold energy to reduce the ineffective consumption of limited energy resources.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of deep-sea manned equipment technology, and in particular to a shower room suitable for use in a closed environment for deep-sea manned vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] Personnel aboard deep-sea manned equipment need to work and live in a sealed cabin environment constructed by a pressure-resistant structure in the deep sea. During long-term deep-sea dives, personnel need to shower inside the cabin for physiological hygiene and to meet their physical and mental endurance requirements. Due to limitations in the dimensions of the pressure-resistant structure, cabin space, and resources and energy, the personnel's showering needs are met by providing showers periodically.

[0003] Because the manned space contains a large number of precision equipment and instruments, there are high requirements for the temperature and humidity of the cabin environment. Based on the low temperature of the external seawater environment under deep-sea conditions, the target temperature controlled in the cabin is too cold for showering activities. At the same time, the humidity in the air in the shower space is very high, and the evaporation of water hanging on the shower wall puts a great burden on the overall humidity control of the manned cabin.

[0004] This invention combines the need for heating in a specific small space during showering with the need to reduce the impact of showering on the overall humidity of the cabin, and proposes a shower room suitable for deep-sea manned enclosed environments. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In response to the shortcomings of the existing production technology, the applicant provides a shower room suitable for deep-sea manned enclosed environments. By using thermoelectric refrigeration technology to dehumidify the high humidity air inside the shower room, the waste heat generated by refrigeration is used to raise the temperature of the shower room, thereby improving the comfort of showering personnel, accelerating the evaporation of condensate, and reducing the burden of humidity control in manned cabins.

[0006] The technical solution adopted in this invention is as follows:

[0007] A shower enclosure suitable for use in a deep-sea manned enclosed environment includes:

[0008] The shower enclosure provides a sealed chamber for showering.

[0009] The air duct system, installed on the shower enclosure shell and used for internal air circulation, includes the following components:

[0010] A top cavity located inside the top of the shower enclosure shell;

[0011] Return air ducts are arranged around the perimeter of the top cavity;

[0012] A return air vent connected to the return air duct and used to supply air into the shower enclosure;

[0013] And an exhaust vent connected to the top cavity for venting the shower enclosure casing;

[0014] Multiple thermopile units, respectively connected to the air duct system and the shower enclosure shell, are used to release heat into the shower enclosure shell and release cold air into the air duct system to condense water vapor. The structure includes:

[0015] The cold end of the thermopile faces the return air duct and is attached to the side wall of the return air duct to provide a cold source for condensing water vapor into the return air duct.

[0016] The hot end of the thermopile, located behind the cold end, is used to provide a heat source to the shower enclosure.

[0017] Its further features are:

[0018] The shower enclosure shell is equipped with an inner panel, which has a three-layer structure. The first layer is made of aluminum alloy or other high thermal conductivity metal material, and the wall surface is treated with paint, matte, or brushed finish to reduce reflection. The middle layer is polyurethane foam or other insulation material as a filling layer. The third layer is a waterproof material veneer or waterproof coating. The shower enclosure shell is also connected to a shower door.

[0019] An exhaust fan is installed inside the exhaust vent, and a return air fan is installed at the connection between the top cavity and the return air duct.

[0020] The hot end of the thermopile is connected to the hot end radiator. Multiple hot end radiators form a rectangle and are arranged around the upper end of the inner side wall of the shower room shell. The hot end radiator is composed of a heat dissipation base, a copper heat pipe and an aluminum alloy heat dissipation fin. The hot end of the thermopile is in close contact with the heat dissipation base of the hot end radiator. The heat dissipation base is in close contact with the first layer of metal plate of the inner panel and is covered by the second layer of insulation material.

[0021] The upper part of the heat dissipation fins of the hot end radiator is connected to a heat dissipation fan, which is used to blow the heat on the heat dissipation fins into the shower room.

[0022] The return air duct is embedded with a cold-end heat absorber, which consists of a heat-absorbing base made of high thermal conductivity material and heat-absorbing fins. The cold end of the thermopile is in close contact with the heat-absorbing base of the cold-end heat absorber. The connection between the cold end of the thermopile and the heat-absorbing base is brazed or coated with high thermal conductivity silicone grease to facilitate heat transfer. At the same time, the lower end of the cold-end heat absorber at the return air inlet sends uncondensed water vapor into the shower room shell.

[0023] The end of the return air duct is connected to a condensate collection pipe, which is connected to a condensate storage tank to collect condensate. The condensate collection pipe is inclined toward the condensate storage tank and contains a magnetic valve that opens and closes according to gravity. When the condensate accumulates to a certain level, the gravity exceeds the attraction of the magnetic valve, and the valve opens automatically.

[0024] The shower enclosure shell is also equipped with a cold water inlet and a hot water inlet, which are connected to the shower head to provide the appropriate temperature water for showering; the inner bottom wall of the shower enclosure shell is also equipped with a shower wastewater discharge port for discharging wastewater.

[0025] It also includes a control module, which consists of a control box and a temperature and humidity sensor combination module. The control box is equipped with an external indicator panel for display and operation.

[0026] The control box is electrically connected to the thermopile, cooling fan, return air fan, exhaust fan, and temperature and humidity sensor module, and can automatically control the temperature and humidity inside the shower room shell.

[0027] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0028] This invention features a compact and rational structure and is easy to operate. By utilizing thermoelectric cooling technology to dehumidify the high-humidity air in the shower room and using the waste heat generated by cooling to raise the temperature of the shower room, it can meet the heating needs of personnel in the deep-sea manned enclosed environment during showering without the need for additional heating or air drying equipment. This improves the comfort of personnel during showering, accelerates the evaporation of condensate, reduces the burden of air humidity control in the manned cabin, and reduces the space and dimensional burden caused by additional heating and air drying equipment. It also utilizes waste heat and waste cooling, reducing the ineffective consumption of limited energy.

[0029] In addition, the present invention also has the following advantages:

[0030] (1). By adopting a three-layer internal panel structure and cooperating with the shower room shell and shower room door, a relatively sealed space can be provided to prevent water vapor from overflowing. At the same time, the internal panel can also facilitate the heat generated by the electric heating pile to be conducted to the cabin wall through the heat dissipation base of the hot end radiator, accelerate the evaporation of water hanging on the wall after showering, and reduce reflection by applying paint, matte or brushed finish to the wall surface, and block the heat transfer to the space where the cold end of the electric heating pile is located; prevent water vapor in the external air (referring to the overall environment of the manned space) from seeping in, which is suitable for deep-sea manned equipment.

[0031] (2). By adopting a duct system and a thermopile, which are installed on the outer shell of the shower room and realize internal air circulation, the air flow with the outside is avoided, while the air flow inside the shower room is realized. With the heat source generated by the thermopile, a heat source can be continuously provided to the shower room shell, which is suitable for deep-sea manned equipment.

[0032] (3) By setting up a thermopile, the cold end of the thermopile faces the return air duct and is attached to the side wall of the return air duct to provide a cold source to the return air duct to condense water vapor, reduce water vapor and lower humidity, which is suitable for deep-sea manned equipment.

[0033] (4). In view of the living conditions of deep-sea manned equipment personnel and the requirements of high-precision instruments and equipment for environmental humidity control, this invention proposes a shower room suitable for the closed environment of deep-sea manned equipment.

[0034] (5). This invention utilizes thermoelectric cooling technology to meet the heating needs of personnel showering in the deep-sea manned enclosed environment, improve the comfort of personnel showering, and at the same time reduce the burden of air humidity control in the manned cabin.

[0035] (6). When drying condensed air, the present invention uses the waste heat generated to heat the air; when heating the space, it uses the waste cooling generated by the thermopile 1 to condense the air, thus reducing the ineffective consumption of limited energy of deep-sea manned equipment.

[0036] (7) The present invention reduces the overall load burden such as space, size, and weight caused by the need to configure heating and air drying equipment for showering. Attached Figure Description

[0037] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structural system of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention (after removing the shower enclosure shell).

[0040] Figure 4 This is a partial three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the air duct system, condensate collection pipe and thermopile in this invention.

[0042] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A top-down view.

[0043] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the thermopile, hot-end radiator and return air duct of the present invention.

[0044] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the thermopile and the return air duct of the present invention.

[0045] The components include: 1. Thermopile; 2. Cold end of the thermopile; 3. Hot end of the thermopile; 4. Cold end absorber; 5. Hot end radiator; 6. Cooling fan; 7. Return air fan; 8. Exhaust fan; 9. Duct system; 901. Return air vent; 902. Top cavity; 903. Return air duct; 904. Exhaust vent; 10. Condensate collection pipe; 11. Shower door; 12. Temperature and humidity sensor module; 13. Control box; 14. External indicator panel; 15. Condensate storage tank; 16. Shower head; 17. Floor drain; 18. Power supply interface; 19. Cold water interface; 20. Hot water interface; 21. Shower wastewater discharge interface; 22. Interior panel; 23. Shower enclosure shell. Detailed Implementation

[0046] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0047] like Figures 1-8 As shown, this embodiment discloses a shower room suitable for a deep-sea manned enclosed environment, mainly including a thermopile 1, a cold end of the thermopile 2, a hot end of the thermopile 3, a cold end heat absorber 4, a hot end heat sink 5, a cooling fan 6, a return air fan 7, an exhaust fan 8, an air duct system 9, a condensate collection pipe 10, a shower room door 11, a temperature and humidity sensor combination module 12, a control box 13, an external indicator panel 14, a condensate storage tank 15, a shower head 16, a floor drain 17, a power supply interface 18, a cold water interface 19, a hot water interface 20, a shower wastewater discharge interface 21, and internal components. Panel 22 and shower enclosure shell 23 utilize thermoelectric cooling technology to dehumidify the high humidity air inside the shower enclosure and use the waste heat generated by cooling to raise the temperature of the shower room. This can meet the heating needs of personnel in the deep-sea manned enclosed environment when showering without additional heating or air drying equipment, improve the comfort of personnel showering, accelerate the evaporation of condensate, reduce the burden of air humidity control in the manned cabin, and reduce the space and size burden caused by additional heating and air drying equipment. It utilizes waste heat and waste cooling, reducing the ineffective consumption of limited energy.

[0048] Among them, such as Figures 2-4As shown, the shower enclosure shell 23 is equipped with an inner panel 22, which has a three-layer structure. The first layer (the inner wall of the shower enclosure) is made of aluminum alloy or other high thermal conductivity metal material, which facilitates the conduction of heat generated by the thermoelectric stack to the cabin wall through the heat dissipation base of the hot end radiator 5, and accelerates the evaporation of water hanging on the wall after showering. The wall surface is treated with paint, matte or brushed finish to reduce reflection. The middle layer is filled with polyurethane foam or other insulation material to block the transfer of heat to the space where the cold end of the thermoelectric stack is located. The third layer is a waterproof material veneer or waterproof coating to prevent water vapor in the outside air (referring to the overall environment of the manned space) from condensing on the outer surface of the cold end heat absorber 4 of the thermoelectric stack 1 and seeping into the middle layer of the inner panel 22. The shower enclosure shell 23 is also connected to the shower enclosure door 11. The inner panel 22, the shower enclosure shell 23, and the shower enclosure door 11 together constitute the shower enclosure space and provide a sealed space to prevent water vapor from overflowing and seeping in. However, it should be noted that since the shower enclosure in this solution is a sealed space, the shower time needs to be limited so that the oxygen is within a safe range during the short shower.

[0049] The air duct system 9, installed on the shower enclosure shell 23 and enabling internal air circulation, includes the following structure:

[0050] A top cavity 902 is provided inside the top of the shower enclosure shell 23;

[0051] Return air ducts 903 are arranged around the top cavity 902;

[0052] A return air inlet 901 is connected to the return air duct 903 and is used to supply air into the shower enclosure 23;

[0053] And an exhaust vent 904 connected to the top cavity 902 for exhausting the shower enclosure 23;

[0054] Multiple thermopile 1s are connected to the air duct system 9 and the shower enclosure shell 23, respectively, for releasing heat into the shower enclosure shell 23 and releasing cold water into the air duct system 9 to condense water vapor. Their structure includes:

[0055] The cold end 2 of the thermopile faces the return air duct 903 and is attached to the side wall of the return air duct 903 to provide a cold source to the return air duct 903 to condense water vapor, reduce water vapor and lower humidity;

[0056] The hot end 3 of the thermopile, located behind the cold end 2 of the thermopile, is used to provide a heat source to the shower enclosure 23.

[0057] An exhaust fan 8 is installed inside the exhaust vent 904, and a return air fan 7 is installed at the connection between the top cavity 902 and the return air duct 903.

[0058] The thermopile 1 is a semiconductor refrigeration chip, an electrical appliance that does not use refrigerant and has no moving parts. It functions similarly to a conventional refrigeration compressor. When powered on, the cold end 2 of the thermopile 1 absorbs heat and provides a cooling effect, while the hot end 3 of the thermopile releases heat. This heat is released into the shower room through the hot end radiator 5, providing a heating effect. The heat dissipation of the hot end 3 is much greater than the cooling output of the cold end. The heat released by the hot end is the sum of the electrical power consumed by the thermopile 1 and the load on the cold end.

[0059] This invention utilizes the cooling characteristics of the cold end 2 of the thermopile 1 to condense and dehumidify the air in the shower room and collect the condensate. Specifically, it condenses the water vapor in the return air duct 903 to reduce the impact of high humidity air after showering on the overall environmental humidity control and the precision instruments and equipment in the cabin. Meanwhile, it utilizes the fact that the hot end 3 of the thermopile 1 needs to dissipate heat and that the hot end 3 of the thermopile 1 generates a large amount of heat to heat the air in the shower room, creating a shower space with an ideal ambient temperature in the overall environment of the deep-sea manned cabin, where showering is not suitable.

[0060] The hot-end radiator 5 consists of a heat dissipation base made of high thermal conductivity materials such as aluminum alloy or copper alloy, a copper heat pipe, and aluminum alloy heat dissipation fins. The cold-end absorber 4 consists of a heat absorption base made of high thermal conductivity materials such as aluminum alloy or copper alloy and heat absorption fins. The hot end 3 of the thermopile is in close contact with the heat dissipation base of the hot-end radiator 5. The heat dissipation base is in close contact with the first layer of metal plate of the inner panel 22 and is covered by the second layer of insulation material. The cold end 2 of the thermopile is in close contact with the heat absorption base of the cold-end absorber 4. All the in-contact connection parts are brazed or coated with high thermal conductivity silicone grease to facilitate heat transfer. At the same time, the return air vent 901 at the lower end of the cold-end absorber 4 sends uncondensed water vapor into the shower room shell 23.

[0061] The cooling fan 6 is arranged on the upper part of the heat dissipation fins of the hot end radiator 5 to blow the heat on the heat dissipation fins into the shower room, so as to maintain the continuous operation of the thermopile 1 and raise the air temperature in the shower room.

[0062] The air duct system 9 consists of an exhaust vent 904 at the top of the shower room, a top cavity 902 above the exhaust vent 904, return air ducts 903 arranged around the top cavity 902, and return air inlets 901 around the inside of the shower room. An exhaust fan 8 is installed inside the exhaust vent 904, and several return air fans 7 are installed at the connection between the top cavity 902 and the return air duct 903. A cold end heat absorber 4 is embedded in the return air duct 903. The air duct system 9, the exhaust fan 8, the return air fan 7, and the cold end heat absorber 4 constitute the air condensation circulation path of the shower room.

[0063] The condensate collection pipe 10 is located at the closed end of the return air duct 903 of the duct system 9. The condensate collection pipe 10 is inclined and connected to the condensate storage tank 15 to collect condensate. The condensate collection pipe 10 has a magnetic valve that opens and closes according to gravity. When the condensate collects to a certain level, the gravity exceeds the attraction of the magnetic valve, the valve opens automatically, and the condensate flows into the condensate storage tank 15.

[0064] The condensate collection pipe 10 is connected to the condensate storage tank 15. The control box 13 is connected to each electrical device or sensor via a cable. The power supply interface 18 is connected to the external power supply of the deep-sea manned equipment. The cold water interface 19 and the hot water interface 20 are respectively connected to the cold and hot water supply pipelines supplied by the water supply system of the deep-sea manned equipment. The shower wastewater discharge interface 21 is connected to the collection pipeline of the wastewater collection system of the deep-sea manned equipment.

[0065] The showerhead 16 provides water at the appropriate temperature for showering. The cold water inlet 19 and the hot water inlet 20 are connected to the cold and hot water supply pipes of the deep-sea manned equipment water supply system, respectively. The shower wastewater discharge inlet 21 is connected to the collection pipe of the deep-sea manned equipment wastewater collection system and drains the shower room through the floor drain 17.

[0066] like Figure 1 As shown, the control box 13 is connected to the thermopile 1, cooling fan 6, return air fan 7, exhaust fan 8, and temperature and humidity sensor module 12 via cables. It can automatically control the temperature and humidity inside the shower enclosure 23. The control box 13 receives air temperature and humidity information from the temperature and humidity sensor module 12 and displays it on the external indicator panel 14. When the temperature inside the shower enclosure approaches or reaches the suitable shower temperature, personnel enter the shower enclosure to begin showering. During showering, if the air temperature rises rapidly and exceeds the set upper limit of the suitable shower temperature, the control box 13 stops supplying power to the thermopile 1; when the air temperature drops to the lower limit of the suitable shower temperature, the control box 13 resumes supplying power to the thermopile 1. After showering, the shower enclosure door 11 must be closed to prevent high water vapor levels and accumulated water in the shower enclosure from evaporating into the overall environment of the manned cabin.

[0067] The power supply interface 18 is connected to the external power supply of the deep-sea manned equipment, and the external indicator panel 14 is used to display the air temperature and humidity inside the shower room.

[0068] The working principle is as follows: Before personnel shower, the ambient temperature inside the deep-sea manned equipment cabin is low, affecting the comfort of personnel during showering. By controlling the control box 13, the various electrical devices in the shower room are activated. After the thermopile 1 is powered on, the hot end 3 of the thermopile generates heat, while the cold end 2 absorbs heat from the surrounding air. The heat generated by the hot end 3 of the thermopile is mainly conducted to the hot-end radiator 5, and the cooling fan 6 arranged on the upper part of the hot-end radiator 5 blows air downwards, dissipating the heat into the shower room space and raising the air temperature. Part of the heat generated by the hot end 3 of the thermopile is conducted by the heat dissipation base of the hot-end radiator 5 to the first layer of the inner panel 22, and then radiates heat into the air inside the shower room from the inner panel 22. The cold end 2 of the thermopile absorbs heat from the air in the return air duct 903 of the air duct system 9 through the cold end heat absorber 4. The exhaust fan 8 draws the air in the shower room into the top cavity 902 of the air duct system 9, and then the return air fan 7 sends the air into the return air duct 903, taking away most of the cooling capacity of the cold end heat absorber 4. The air is then sent into the shower room through the return air inlet 901 at the bottom of the return air duct 903. Since the heat released by the hot end 3 of the thermopile is the sum of the electrical power consumed by the thermopile 1 and the load of the cold end 2 of the thermopile, the cold air sent in through the return air inlet 901 does not affect the overall upward trend of the air temperature in the shower room.

[0069] The control box 13 receives air temperature and humidity information from the temperature and humidity sensor module 12 and displays it on the external indicator panel 14. When the temperature inside the shower room approaches or reaches the suitable shower temperature, personnel enter the shower room to begin showering. During the shower, if the air temperature rises rapidly and exceeds the set upper limit of the suitable shower temperature, the control box 13 stops supplying power to the thermopile 1; when the air temperature drops to the lower limit of the suitable shower temperature, the control box 13 resumes supplying power to the thermopile 1. After showering, personnel must close the shower room door 11 to prevent high water vapor and accumulated water in the shower room from evaporating into the overall environment of the manned cabin.

[0070] During and for a period of time after showering, power needs to be supplied to various electrical devices via control box 13 to continuously reduce air humidity. The high-humidity air in the shower room is exhausted by exhaust fan 8 to the top cavity 902 of the air duct system 9. Then, return air fans 7 arranged around the top cavity 902 send the high-humidity air to the return air duct 903 of the air duct system 9, and return it to the shower room through return air inlet 901. The return air inlet 901 at the bottom of the return air duct 903 is located directly below the cooling fan 6 and the hot-end radiator 5 (see...). Figure 3(The return air vent 901 faces downwards), the cold air blown in by the return air mixes quickly with the hot air blown out by the cooling fan 6, so the people in the shower room do not feel the cold air. When the high humidity air passes through the return air duct 903, the cold end heat absorber 4 in the return air duct 903 absorbs the heat in the air, causing water vapor to condense and drip into the condensate collection pipe 10 at the bottom of the return air duct 903, and finally collects it in the condensate storage tank 15 through the pipeline. During this stage, the hot end radiator 5, the cooling fan 6, and the first layer of metal plate of the inner panel 22 also continuously transfer the heat of the hot end 3 of the thermopile to the shower room, accelerating the evaporation of the residual water hanging on the walls and accumulated in the shower room. The control box 13 receives the air humidity information sent by the temperature and humidity sensor combination module 12. When the humidity of the shower room is within the humidity control requirement range of the deep-sea manned equipment cabin, the control box 13 stops the operation of each electrical device.

[0071] Advantages or effects:

[0072] This invention addresses the needs of personnel living in deep-sea manned equipment and the requirements of high-precision instruments and equipment for environmental humidity control, proposing a shower room suitable for the enclosed environment of deep-sea manned equipment.

[0073] This invention utilizes thermoelectric cooling technology to meet the heating needs of personnel showering in the enclosed environment of deep-sea manned spacecraft, thereby improving the comfort of personnel showering and reducing the burden of controlling air humidity in the manned cabin.

[0074] This invention utilizes the waste heat generated during the drying of condensed air to heat the air; and utilizes the waste cooling generated by the thermopile 1 to condense the air during the heating of the space, thus reducing the ineffective consumption of limited energy of deep-sea manned equipment in one fell swoop.

[0075] This invention reduces the overall load burden in terms of space, size, and weight caused by the need to configure heating and air drying equipment for showering.

[0076] This invention relates to the field of deep-sea manned equipment, specifically to a shower enclosure suitable for a closed environment in deep-sea manned environments. The invention mainly includes a shower enclosure shell 23, an inner panel 22, a thermopile 1, a hot-end radiator 5, a cold-end heat absorber 4, a cooling fan 6, an exhaust fan 8, a return air chamber, a return air fan 7, a return air vent 901, a condensate collection pipe, a condensate storage tank 15, a control box 13, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor. This invention simultaneously utilizes thermoelectric cooling technology to dehumidify the high-humidity air inside the shower enclosure and uses the waste heat generated by cooling to raise the shower room temperature. This allows the invention to meet the heating needs of personnel showering in a closed environment in deep-sea manned environments without the need for additional heating or air drying equipment, improving shower comfort, accelerating condensate evaporation, reducing the burden of humidity control in the manned cabin, and minimizing the space and dimensional burden of additional heating and air drying equipment. It also utilizes waste heat and waste cooling, reducing the ineffective consumption of limited energy resources.

[0077] The above description is an explanation of the present invention and not a limitation thereof. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims. Within the scope of protection of the present invention, any form of modification may be made.

Claims

1. A shower room suitable for use in a deep-sea manned enclosed environment, characterized in that, include: Shower enclosure shell (23) provides a sealed chamber for showering; The air duct system (9), installed on the shower enclosure shell (23) and realizing internal air circulation, includes the following structure: Top cavity (902) is provided inside the top of the shower enclosure shell (23); Return air ducts (903) are arranged around the top cavity (902); A return air inlet (901) is connected to the return air duct (903) and used to supply air into the shower enclosure (23). And an exhaust vent (904) connected to the top cavity (902) for exhausting the shower enclosure (23); Multiple thermopile (1), which are respectively connected to the air duct system (9) and the shower enclosure shell (23), are used to release heat into the shower enclosure shell (23) and to release cold water vapor into the air duct system (9). The structure includes: The cold end (2) of the thermopile faces the return air duct (903) and is attached to the side wall of the return air duct (903) to provide a cold source for condensing water vapor into the return air duct (903); The hot end (3) of the thermopile, located behind the cold end (2) of the thermopile, is used to provide a heat source to the shower enclosure (23); The shower enclosure shell (23) is provided with an inner panel (22). The inner panel (22) has a three-layer structure. The first layer is made of aluminum alloy or other high thermal conductivity metal material. The wall surface is treated with baking paint, matte or brushed finish to reduce reflection. The middle layer is made of polyurethane foam or other insulation material as a filling layer. The third layer is made of waterproof material or waterproof coating. The shower enclosure shell (23) is also connected to a shower door (11).

2. A shower room suitable for a deep-sea manned enclosed environment as described in claim 1, characterized in that: An exhaust fan (8) is installed inside the exhaust port (904), and a return air fan (7) is installed at the connection between the top cavity (902) and the return air duct (903).

3. A shower room suitable for a deep-sea manned enclosed environment as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The hot end (3) of the thermopile is connected to the hot end radiator (5). Multiple hot end radiators (5) form a rectangle and are arranged around the upper end of the inner side wall of the shower room shell (23). The hot end radiator (5) is composed of a heat dissipation base, a copper heat pipe and an aluminum alloy heat dissipation fin. The hot end (3) of the thermopile is in close contact with the heat dissipation base of the hot end radiator (5). The heat dissipation base is in close contact with the first layer of metal plate of the inner panel (22) and is covered by the second layer of insulation material.

4. A shower room suitable for a deep-sea manned enclosed environment as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The upper part of the heat dissipation fins of the hot end radiator (5) is connected to a heat dissipation fan (6) to blow the heat on the heat dissipation fins into the shower room.

5. A shower room suitable for a deep-sea manned enclosed environment as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The return air duct (903) is embedded with a cold end heat absorber (4). The cold end heat absorber (4) is composed of a heat-absorbing base made of high thermal conductivity material and heat-absorbing fins. The cold end (2) of the thermopile is in close contact with the heat-absorbing base of the cold end heat absorber (4). The connection between the cold end (2) of the thermopile and the heat-absorbing base is brazed or coated with high thermal conductivity silicone grease to facilitate heat transfer. At the same time, the return air vent (901) at the lower end of the cold end heat absorber (4) sends uncondensed water vapor into the shower room shell (23).

6. A shower room suitable for a deep-sea manned enclosed environment as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The end of the return air duct (903) is connected to a condensate collection pipe (10), and the condensate collection pipe (10) is connected to a condensate storage tank (15) for collecting condensate. The condensate collection pipe (10) is inclined toward the condensate storage tank (15), and there is a magnetic valve plate inside the condensate collection pipe (10) that opens and closes according to gravity. When the condensate accumulates to a certain extent, the gravity exceeds the attraction of the magnetic valve plate, and the valve plate opens automatically.

7. A shower room suitable for a deep-sea manned enclosed environment as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The shower enclosure (23) is also equipped with a cold water inlet (19) and a hot water inlet (20), and the cold water inlet (19) and the hot water inlet (20) are connected to the shower head (16) to provide the appropriate temperature water for showering; the inner bottom wall of the shower enclosure (23) is also provided with a shower wastewater discharge inlet (21) for discharging wastewater.

8. A shower room suitable for a deep-sea manned enclosed environment as described in claim 7, characterized in that: It also includes a control module, which includes a control box (13) and a temperature and humidity sensor combination module (12). The control box (13) is provided with an external indicator panel (14) for display and operation.

9. A shower room suitable for a deep-sea manned enclosed environment as described in claim 8, characterized in that: The control box (13) is electrically connected to the thermopile (1), the cooling fan (6), the return air fan (7), the exhaust fan (8), and the temperature and humidity sensor combination module (12), and can automatically control the temperature and humidity inside the shower room shell (23).

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Heating, ventilation and dehumidification integrated machine for small shower room

    CN107514719A