Ventilation and dehumidification system

Abstract

A ventilation and dehumidification assembly comprising an inlet 24 open to the atmosphere, wherein the air inlet may be located in a shower delivery head 17. An extraction unit may comprise an impelle

Description

This invention relates to a ventilation and dehumidification system suitable for use in a domestic or industrial building where ventilation is poor and the ambient air is at least periodically 5 humid or steam-laden. All buildings require a degree of forced or natural ventilation for reasons including to ensure access to fresh air; so that heating and cooling is naturally dispersed and equalised throughout the whole and, in some cases, to prevent the build-up of toxic gases and airborne pathogens such as viruses. Adequate ventilation is especially important in rooms where the air can be stagnant, 10 steamy or humid as is the case, for example, in bathrooms, shower rooms or kitchens. It is well-known that in these locations walls can become infested with black mould and in extreme cases water can even penetrate the building fabric leading to damp problems which, if not addressed, may affect the integrity of the structure. For these reasons, it is conventional to build extractor fans into the walls of such rooms thereby providing forced venting either directly to the outside or via 15 an intermediate structure such as ducting or a chimney. However, such forced ventilation systems are often expensive and difficult to install and in particular retrofit; especially in internal rooms lacking easy access to the exterior as is the case in many apartment blocks. This can also be a particular problem where the building concerned is being upgraded or converted. US20210293422 describes an approach to solving this problem based on a system in which a 20 cooling impellor is powered by flowing cold-water. We have now developed a cheap and easy to install system based on an assembly which can be quickly located in internal rooms and which not only provides a degree of air circulation but also efficiently removes water vapour from humid or steam-laden air; in the process trapping it as liquid water. This water can then be recovered and disposed of separately; for example, into the building's 25 existing drainage system. Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided a ventilation and dehumidification assembly, adapted to be a component of a bathroom shower unit and characterised by comprising (a) at least one inlet open to the atmosphere, the inlet being integral with a shower-delivery-head; (b) an extraction unit fluidly connected downstream of the inlet and adapted to draw warm air laden with water vapour thereinto from the inlet; (c) a water-cooled heat 30 exchanger fluidly connected downstream of the extraction unit and adapted to cause condensation of the water vapour present in the air passing therethrough and (d) an outlet fluidly connected downstream of the heat exchanger through which liquid water is recovered. The ventilation and dehumidification assembly of the present invention will find wide application as a temporary or permanent fixture in inter alia a bathroom or shower room of domestic or commercial buildings. It can easily be attached to a wall by conventional screw fixings and either temporary or permanently plumbed into the mains or like cold water system. For 5 maximum efficiency, it is preferable to locate at least an inlet component of the assembly on a wall closest to where humid or steam-laden atmosphere is likely to arise. In one embodiment, the inlet will comprise a plurality of openings open to the air through which the atmosphere may be drawn by action of the extraction unit. The extraction unit, which is fluidly connected to the inlet for example by means of a rigid pipe, flexible hosing or the like, is suitably electrically powered and 10 comprised for example of an electrically-driven impeller contained in a sealed container the inside of which is also fluidly connected to the heat exchanger. Preferably this container is water-tight and the working parts and electrical components of the impeller are made of a non-corrodible material such as plastic and / or have been rendered waterproof. By action of the impeller, humid or steam-laden air is optionally warmed and drawn through 15 the extraction unit from the external atmosphere and passed to the heat exchanger where it is cooled by cooling structures containing flowing cold-water maintained at a steady state temperature below that of the air being processed; preferably at ambient temperature or below. Heat exchangers designed for cooling air or other fluids are well known in the art and many are suitable for the duty envisioned herein. At its simplest the heat exchanger will comprise a sealed 20 chamber through which the cold-water passes and one or more pipe(s) carrying the air to be cooled. Although this pipe may, in it simplest form, be straight, cooling efficiency may be improved by rendering the pipe spiral or serpentine. In one embodiment the pipe itself may additionally be provided with cooling fins on its exterior. Thereafter, liquid water which has condensed in the heat exchanger is removed via a rigid 25 pipe or flexible hosing and delivered to an outlet where it can optionally be temporarily stored and emptied into a separate drainage component such as a household drain. Temporary storage may also be achieved using an intermediate small container provided with a stopcock for intermittent emptying. The shower delivery head will suitably be provided with first and second cavities for 30 respectively delivering shower water and buffering the action of the extraction unit as it draws air through the inlets. In this situation, it is envisaged that any of the various components of the assembly of the invention and in particular the shower delivery head which incorporates the inlets may be fabricated and sold as a separate replaceable item. 14 03 23 An example of an assembly according to the present invention is described below with reference to the following Figures in which: Figure 1 depicts a sectional view of a shower unit and Figure 2 depicts a sectional view of a particular design of shower head incorporating the 5 inlets. With reference to Figure 1, a shower unit comprises a plastic or metal housing 1 containing hollow sub housing 2, heat exchanger 3, drain stopcock 4 and a tap mixer valve 5 provided with temperature and flow regulator 6. 5 receives hot water from pipe 7 connected to an external source (not shown) and warmed water from pipe 8. 8 is fed from a cooling cavity 9 within 3 which 10 in turn receives flowing cold mains water or the like from pipe 10 connected to another external source (also not shown). 2 is water-tight and encloses electrically-driven impeller 11 which draws air into 2 from line 12. 12 is juxtaposed alongside shower-water delivery hose 13 which itself is connected to the outlet of 5 via pipe 14 and a screw connector 25 which enables 13 to be detached and replaced. 11 also partially heats the air in 2 causing an expansion which impels humid or steam-15 laden air from 12 out of 2 into 3 where it is caused to cool and condense water in cooling coil 15. Thereafter, liquid water drains from 15 into 4 via pipe 16. 11 is powered by electrical circuit 26 which includes on-off switch 27 and cable connector 28. With further reference to Figure 2,12 and 13 are connected to a partially disc-shaped shower delivery head 17. 17 suitably comprises a plastic handle region 18, a first cavity 19 fed by 13 and 20 which ejects hot water through nozzles 20 arranged radially about an axis perpendicular to circular cover 21. It is envisaged that the nozzles 20 may be of differing size and orientation relative to 21. 12 is fluidly connected to second cavity 22 juxtaposed behind 19 and extending beyond its circumference to form annular hollow ring 23. 23 contains a circumferentially disposed set of openings 24 which enable humid or steam-laden air to enter into 22 from the outside where it is 25 subsequently drawn to 12 and then 2 by a suction force created by 11.

Claims

1. A ventilation and dehumidification assembly, adapted to be a component of a bathroom shower unit and characterised by comprising (a) at least one inlet open to the atmosphere, the inlet being integral with a shower-delivery-head; (b) an extraction unit5 fluidly connected downstream of the inlet and adapted to draw warm air laden withwater vapour thereinto from the inlet; (c) a water-cooled heat exchanger fluidly connected downstream of the extraction unit and adapted to cause condensation of the water vapour present in the air passing therethrough and (d) an outlet fluidly connected downstream of the heat exchanger through which liquid water is recovered.10 2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the heat exchanger is comprised LO CM 15 3. of a pipe fluidly connected to the extractor unit through which the warm air flows and a means for cooling the exterior of the pipe with cold water. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 characterised in that the shower delivery head is fed by cold and hot water streams and that the cold water stream at least in part cools the heat exchanger. i— 4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 characterised in that after passing through the heat 19 1 5. exchanger the cold water stream feeds a tap mixer where it is mixed with the hot water stream before being fed to the shower delivery head. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 characterised in that the shower delivery head is 20 25 6.

7. comprised of (a) a first cavity fluidly connected to the tap mixer; (b) a plurality of waterejecting nozzles and (c) a second cavity fluidly connected to the extraction unit provided with at least one opening open to the atmosphere. An assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that the extraction unit includes an impeller driven by an electric motor. An assembly as claimed in any of the proceeding claims characterised in that the outletincludes a means to connect it to a drainage system.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7 characterised in that the outlet includes a container and stopcock for temporarily storing any water recovered from the heat exchanger.

Images