Sauna and humidification system for sauna

Abstract

To improve a relaxation effect by stabilizing the humidity of a sauna.SOLUTION: A humidification system 15 for humidifying air in a sauna room 11 includes a spray device 51 having a mist generation part capable of generating mist for humidification by atomizing water stored in a tank by ultrasonic vibration, and a duct 61 for supplying the mist generated by the mist generation part to the sauna room 11. The duct 61 is connected to a supply port 64 provided near the floor part 21 of the sauna room 11, and the mist discharged from the supply port 64 temporarily stays in a stay area RA which is an area along the floor part 21. In the retention region RA, an air flow (convection) toward the heating unit 12 side installed on the floor portion 21 is generated, and the supplied mist is guided to the heating unit 12 side by the air flow. In the process of this guiding, at least a part of the mist is vaporized.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to saunas and humidification systems for saunas. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, some saunas, such as Finnish saunas, are designed to humidify the air inside the sauna room, thereby increasing the perceived temperature and encouraging users to sweat. Specifically, humidification is sometimes achieved by pouring water onto sauna stones installed inside the sauna room, a process known as loyly, which generates steam (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-273651 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a user performs a loyly, the humidity around the sauna stones increases significantly, and then decreases over time. For this reason, loyly is often performed repeatedly with a certain amount of time between sessions. However, this type of humidification method results in significant changes in humidity over time. Furthermore, humidity levels tend to vary depending on the location within the sauna room, such as the distance from the sauna stones. Extremely low humidity in a sauna room can cause irritation to mucous membranes and excessive heat in the ears and extremities, placing a strain on the body. Extremely high humidity can also hinder sweat evaporation, resulting in an excessively high perceived temperature and shortness of breath. For these reasons, there is still room for improvement in the humidification configuration of saunas in order to optimally utilize the relaxation effects of saunas.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to contribute to improving the relaxation effect by stabilizing the humidity in a sauna. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first invention is A sauna humidification system that is applied to a sauna room in which a heat source unit is installed and the temperature is raised by the heat source unit, and that humidifies the air in the sauna room, a mist generating unit that generates mist for humidification by atomizing water using ultrasonic vibrations; a supply unit that supplies the mist generated by the mist generating unit to the sauna room; Equipped with The mist is evaporated in the sauna room to humidify the air in the sauna room. The supply unit is characterized in that it supplies the mist to a specific area in the sauna room, which is either an area around the heat source or an area where air flows toward the heat source.

[0007] According to the above configuration, humidifying mist is supplied to a specific area, either the area surrounding the heat source or the area where air flows toward the heat source. The mist supplied to the specific area evaporates immediately upon contact with the heat source, but evaporation also progresses as it approaches the heat source. This configuration prevents the supplied mist from evaporating all at once, thereby suppressing sudden changes in humidity. For example, in saunas, humidification is sometimes achieved by pouring water directly onto the heat source to evaporate it (a process known as loyly). However, because water poured onto the heat source evaporates immediately, temporal variations in humidity can occur. In this regard, the above configuration can easily mitigate such variations. This is advantageous for stabilizing the humidity in the sauna room and improving the sauna's relaxation effects.

[0008] Furthermore, in a configuration in which humidifying mist is generated by ultrasonic vibration, for example, there is no need to heat water to a boil, and the mist temperature can be prevented from becoming too high. By supplying mist at a lower temperature, the mist can be prevented from instantly evaporating immediately after supply, and the time until the mist evaporates can be increased. In this way, increasing the time until evaporation is advantageous in suppressing sudden changes in humidity and stabilizing the humidity.

[0009] The second invention is: A sauna humidification system that is applied to a sauna room in which a heat source unit is installed and the temperature is raised by the heat source unit, and that humidifies the air in the sauna room, a mist generating unit that generates mist for humidification by atomizing water using ultrasonic vibrations; a supply unit that supplies the mist generated by the mist generating unit to the sauna room; Equipped with The mist supplied by the supply unit is temporarily retained in a specific area of ​​the sauna room, The heat source unit is disposed in the specific region or in the vicinity of the specific region, When the mist is used to humidify the air in the sauna room, at least a portion of the mist remaining in the specific area is vaporized as it approaches the heat source.

[0010] According to the above configuration, a heat source is disposed in or near a specific area to which humidifying mist is supplied. The mist supplied to the specific area temporarily stagnates in the specific area. The stagnate mist is immediately vaporized upon contact with the heat source, but at least a portion of it evaporates as it approaches the heat source. This configuration prevents the supplied mist from evaporating all at once, thereby suppressing abrupt changes in humidity. For example, in saunas, humidification is sometimes achieved by pouring water directly onto the heat source to evaporate it (a process known as loyly). However, because water poured onto the heat source evaporates immediately, temporal variations in humidity can occur. In this regard, the above configuration easily alleviates such variations. This is advantageous for stabilizing the humidity in the sauna room and improving the sauna's relaxation effect. A configuration that allows mist to stagnate is also advantageous for suppressing abrupt decreases in humidity.

[0011] Furthermore, in a configuration in which humidifying mist is generated by ultrasonic vibration, for example, there is no need to heat water to a boil, and the mist temperature can be prevented from becoming too high. By supplying mist at a lower temperature, the mist can be prevented from instantly evaporating immediately after supply, and the time until the mist evaporates can be increased. In this way, increasing the time until evaporation is advantageous in suppressing sudden changes in humidity and stabilizing the humidity.

[0012] The third invention is A sauna humidification system that is applied to a sauna room in which a heat source unit is installed and the temperature is raised by the heat source unit, and that humidifies the air in the sauna room, a mist generating unit that generates mist for humidification by atomizing water using ultrasonic vibrations; a supply unit that supplies the mist generated by the mist generating unit to the sauna room; Equipped with The mist supplied by the supply unit is temporarily retained in a specific area where an air flow toward the heat source unit occurs, When the mist is used to humidify the air in the sauna room, at least a portion of the mist stagnating in the specific area is vaporized as it moves toward the heat source section due to the air flow.

[0013] According to the above configuration, the humidifying mist supplied to the sauna room temporarily stagnates in a specific area where air flows toward the heat source. The stagnate mist is immediately vaporized upon contact with the heat source, but at least a portion of it evaporates as it approaches the heat source. This configuration prevents the supplied mist from evaporating all at once, thereby suppressing abrupt changes in humidity. For example, in saunas, humidification is sometimes achieved by pouring water directly onto the heat source to evaporate it (a process known as loyly). However, because water poured onto the heat source evaporates immediately, temporal variations in humidity can occur. In this regard, the above configuration easily alleviates such variations. This is advantageous for stabilizing the humidity in the sauna room and improving the sauna's relaxation effect. A configuration that allows the mist to stagnate is also advantageous for suppressing abrupt decreases in humidity.

[0014] Furthermore, in a configuration in which humidifying mist is generated by ultrasonic vibration, for example, there is no need to heat water to a boil, and the mist temperature can be prevented from becoming too high. By supplying mist at a lower temperature, the mist can be prevented from instantly evaporating immediately after supply, and the time until the mist evaporates can be increased. In this way, increasing the time until evaporation is advantageous in suppressing sudden changes in humidity and stabilizing the humidity. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] Schematic side view of a sauna in one embodiment. [Figure 2] Schematic diagram of the sauna from the front. [Figure 3] Schematic diagram showing indoor temperatures. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5]Schematic diagram showing the progression of humidity. [Figure 6] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] An embodiment of a humidification system for use in a sauna will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, an overview of a sauna 10 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the sauna 10 as seen from the side, and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the sauna as seen from the front. For ease of explanation, mist MS, which will be described later, is not shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0017] As shown in Figure 1, sauna 10 is a so-called Finnish-style sauna equipped with sauna room 11 and heating unit 12, which is a heat source for sauna room 11. Sauna room 11 is roughly rectangular in plan view, and a long bench 31 is installed on its floor 21 along the back wall 23 of sauna room 11. Bench 31 is stepped (three steps in this embodiment) and gets higher towards the back, allowing multiple users to sit on it at the same time.

[0018] In addition, approximately half of the floor 21 of the sauna room 11 on the rear wall 23 side is covered by a bench 31, while approximately half on the front side is exposed, and this exposed part functions as a passageway for users to move around inside the sauna room 11.

[0019] As shown in Figure 2, the heating unit 12 and a protective fence surrounding the heating unit 12 are installed in a corner (near the left wall 24) of the sauna room 11. The heating unit 12 comprises a gas stove 41 placed on the floor 21, a number of sauna stones 42 stacked above the gas stove 41, and a lattice-shaped frame 43 that prevents the sauna stones 42 from falling, and functions as a means for adjusting (heating, maintaining) the room temperature of the sauna room 11 to an appropriate temperature (e.g., 95°C).

[0020] The sauna 10 illustrated in this embodiment is a so-called convection sauna. Here, convection generated in the sauna room 11 using the heating unit 12 as a heat source will be described with reference to Fig. 3 .

[0021] When a fluid such as air is heated, its density decreases, it becomes lighter, and it rises. Then, as its temperature decreases, its density increases and it descends. The air heated by the heating unit 12 rises along the left wall 24 of the sauna room 11 toward the ceiling 22. The air that reaches the ceiling 22 first is pushed out by the hot air coming from behind. In this embodiment, a reflector 28 is disposed near the boundary between the left wall 24 and the ceiling 22, guiding the air rising along the left wall 24 toward the right wall 25. After reaching the vicinity of the ceiling 22, the air gradually decreases in temperature and moves along the ceiling 22 toward the right wall 25, before descending, for example, along the right wall 25. After descending toward the floor 21, the air moves toward the heating unit 12 (left wall 24) along the floor 21. The air is then heated again by the heating unit 12 and rises toward the ceiling 22. The location, number and shape of the reflecting plate 28 are arbitrary. Also, the reflecting plate 28 may be omitted if the air flow described above can be generated.

[0022] Although this air flow reduces temperature differences between positions to some extent in the sauna room 11, there are still some temperature differences between positions. Specifically, the temperature (H0) at a position close to the heating unit 12 is higher than the temperature at a position far from the heating unit 12, and the temperature (H1: e.g., 110°C) near the ceiling 22 of the sauna room 11 is higher than the temperature (H3: e.g., 85°C) near the floor 21 of the sauna room 11. The temperature (H2: e.g., 90°C) in the middle between the ceiling 22 and the floor 21 is higher than the temperature (H3) near the floor 21 and lower than the temperature (H1) near the ceiling 22.

[0023] In Finnish saunas, a process known as loyly is sometimes performed, in which steam is generated by pouring water onto sauna stones. Humidification through loyly raises the perceived temperature and promotes sweating. However, excessively high humidity in the sauna room can cause breathlessness, while too low humidity reduces the sweat-promoting effect. Therefore, loyly is typically performed repeatedly at regular intervals (for example, every hour). However, when humidifying using this method, humidity changes significantly over time. For example, the humidity can become excessively high immediately after a loyly, making it difficult to breathe, or, after a certain amount of time has passed since the loyly, the humidity drops, reducing the sweat-promoting effect.

[0024] In consideration of these circumstances, one of the features of this embodiment is that it is designed to prevent the humidity in the sauna room 11 from becoming excessively high or low and to stabilize the humidity. Below, with reference to Figure 4, the humidification system 15 applied to the sauna room 11 will be described.

[0025] The humidification system 15 includes a spray device 51 installed in the machine room 18 and a duct 61 for supplying the mist MS generated by the spray device 51 to the sauna room 11. The spray device 51 has a housing 52 in which a tank 53 for storing water is provided, and a water supply pipe connected to the tank 53. A water supply valve for opening and closing the water supply pipe is provided midway along the water supply pipe, and when the amount of water stored in the tank 53 falls below a lower limit (a set value), the water supply valve switches to an open state, automatically supplying water from the tap (water temperature: for example, 5 to 30°C). When the amount of water stored in the tank 53 reaches an upper limit (a set value), the water supply valve switches to a closed state, automatically stopping the water supply.

[0026] The housing 52 is provided with a vibrator 54 disposed so as to be immersed in the water in the tank 53, and a control board 56 that controls the driving of the vibrator 54. When power is supplied from the control board 56 to the vibrator 54, the vibrator 54 vibrates and generates ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic waves atomize the water stored in the tank 53, generating mist MS, which is a mist of droplets. Specifically, the mist MS is generated in the upper part (gap) of the tank 53. In the spray device 51 shown in this embodiment, the tank 53, the vibrator 54, and the control board 56 form a mist generating unit 57 that generates the mist MS.

[0027] Furthermore, a passage 58 is formed in the housing 52 for discharging the mist MS generated by the mist generation unit 57 to the outside of the spray device 51 (housing 52). An intake pipe 63, which constitutes the upstream portion of the duct 61 and connects the inlet portion 58a to an intake port 62 provided in the sauna room 11, is connected to an outlet portion 58b of the passage 58. A supply pipe 65, which constitutes the downstream portion of the duct 61 and connects the outlet portion 58b to a supply port 64 provided in the sauna room 11, is connected to an outlet portion 58b of the passage 58.

[0028] A fan 55, which serves as an air blowing device, is disposed midway along the passage 58, specifically in the housing 52. The fan 55 is connected to the control board 56, which controls the fan 55 (ON / OFF control). When the fan 55 is turned on, an air flow is generated from the air intake 62 toward the supply port 64. The air taken in from the sauna room 11 through the air intake 62 moves through the passage 58 from the entrance portion 58a toward the exit portion 58b. The mist MS generated by the mist generator 57 rides this air flow toward the supply port 64 and is supplied to the sauna room 11 through the supply port 64. This mist MS appears cloudy and whitish due to diffuse reflection of light from a light source such as the sauna room 11 (see the dotted hatching in FIG. 3). In the following description, the humidified air supplied to the sauna room 11 from the spray device 51 while containing the mist MS is also referred to as humidified air HA (see FIG. 4).

[0029] The spray device 51 described above in detail is a non-heating humidifier that does not require heating of the water stored in the tank 53 when generating the mist MS, and is not equipped with a heating unit or the like for heating the mist MS. Similarly, the above-mentioned duct 61 is not equipped with a heating unit for heating the air or mist MS in the sauna room 11 sucked in through the air intake 62. As will be described in detail later, the temperature of the air inside the sauna room 11 taken in through the air intake 62 (e.g., 85°C) and the temperature of the mist MS (humidification air HA) supplied to the sauna room 11 through the supply port 64 are approximately the same; more specifically, the temperature of the mist (humidification air HA) is slightly lower.

[0030] As already explained, convection occurs within the sauna room 11, and temperature differences occur depending on the position. One of the features of this embodiment is that the humidity in the sauna room 11 is stabilized by utilizing such convection and temperature differences. Below, the configuration for stabilizing humidity will be explained with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. First, a supplementary explanation will be given of the relationship between the intake port 62 and the supply port 64 and the temperature of the sauna room 11 based on Fig. 1.

[0031] As described above, the bench 31 shown in this embodiment is in the form of a staircase (three steps in detail) that increases in height in stages from the front side to the back side of the sauna room 11, and a supply port 64 for supplying mist MS is provided to a vertical plate portion 32b that straddles the seat surface 32a and the floor portion 21 of the lower portion 32 of the bench 31. The mist MS supplied from this supply port 64 to the sauna room 11 does not immediately evaporate (evaporate), but temporarily stays in an area along the floor portion 21 (an area directly above the floor portion 21). In other words, the mist MS supplied to the sauna room 11 temporarily stays, covering the floor portion 21. In the following description, this area will be referred to as a stay area RA (corresponding to a "specific area").

[0032] The retention area RA is an area surrounded by the floor 21, the vertical plate portion 32b of the bench 31, the left and right wall portions 24, 25, and the front wall portion, and its upper limit position is set to be at a height position approximately the same as the seat surface 32a of the bench 31. The mist MS is supplied (released) from near the legs of a user sitting on the lower portion 32 of the bench 31, but the mist MS is prevented from being heated and is made fine. This prevents the user from feeling uncomfortable about the mist MS even if it hits the user's legs, and relaxes restrictions on the placement of the supply port 64.

[0033] Next, a supplementary explanation will be given regarding the position of the air intake 62. In the humidification system 15 shown in this embodiment, the air intake 62 is disposed in an area IA (see FIG. 1 ) surrounded by the floor 21, walls 23-25, and bench 31 of the sauna room 11. This area IA is closer to the floor 21, and the wooden bench 31 makes it less susceptible to the heat of the heating unit 12 than other areas. More specifically, although the temperature is higher than the temperature outside the sauna room 11 (e.g., outside air: −20 to 40°C), it is a relatively low temperature area within the sauna room 11. The humidification system 15 is configured so that the temperature of the mist MS (humidification air HA) supplied from the supply port 64 to the sauna room 11 is slightly lower than the temperature of the stagnation area RA and sufficiently lower than the temperature of the area above the stagnation area RA. This prevents the mist MS (humidification air HA) supplied to the stagnation area RA from floating up and rising above the stagnation area RA. This helps to prevent the mist MS from vaporizing instantly and to achieve a configuration in which the mist MS remains in the retention area RA.

[0034] In addition, an air flow occurs in the sauna room 11 along the floor 21 toward the heating unit 12, and by encouraging the mist MS to move along with this air flow, the mist MS is prevented from immediately escaping from the retention area RA, which helps to realize a configuration in which such air flow remains in the retention area RA.

[0035] The mist MS supplied to the retention area RA moves toward the heating unit 12 on the air flow caused by convection. During this movement, the mist MS gradually evaporates (evaporates) due to the influence of the air above the retention area RA, which is at a relatively high temperature (for example, 90°C). In other words, the mist MS continues to evaporate even while it is retained. Then, when the mist MS approaches the heating unit 12, it evaporates (evaporates) rapidly in the heating unit 12 or in the high-temperature area around it, and rises toward the ceiling 22 on the ascending air current generated near the heating unit 12.

[0036] Here, we will provide additional explanation about the positional relationship between the supply port 64 and the heating unit 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the heating unit 12 shown in this embodiment is disposed in a corner of the sauna room 11 and is not on the extension line of the supply port 64 for the mist MS. This prevents the mist MS supplied from the supply port 64 to the sauna room 11 from immediately heading toward the heating unit 12. The direction of the supply port 64, i.e., the supply direction of the mist MS, intersects with the air flow along the floor 21 due to convection, and the mist MS released from the supply port 64 changes direction due to convection and flows toward the heating unit 12. This configuration increases the retention time of the mist MS in the retention area RA.

[0037] In the sauna 10 shown in this embodiment, the heating unit 12 is located in a section of the retention area RA, and the frame 43 housing the sauna stones 42 and the protective fence surrounding the heating unit 12 are provided with passages through which the mist MS can pass, allowing the mist MS to move toward the sauna stones 42. Incidentally, a portion of the gas stove 41 (group of sauna stones 42) protrudes upward from the retention area RA, preventing the gas stove 41 from being buried in the mist MS and becoming difficult to see, even when the mist MS is retained in the retention area RA. This is a preferable configuration in terms of safety in the sauna room 11.

[0038] The humidification system 15 shown in this embodiment is configured such that the spray device 51 is kept powered on during business hours, and while the spray device 51 is powered on, the supply of mist MS continues uninterrupted unless a supply stop condition, described below, is met. To further explain the supply stop condition, a water volume sensor for determining the amount of water stored in the tank 53 and a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the air taken in through the air intake 62 are connected to the control board 56 of the spray device 51. When the water volume falls below the stop reference water volume or when the measured air temperature exceeds the stop reference temperature, the vibrator 54 and fan 55 are stopped to stop the supply of mist MS. After the supply of mist MS has been stopped, the supply is resumed when the water volume exceeds the stop reference volume and the measured temperature falls below the reference temperature.

[0039] Next, the change in humidity in the sauna room 11 when the humidification system 15 is operating will be described with reference to Figure 5. In Figure 5, the change in humidity when humidification is performed by the humidification system 15 is illustrated by a solid line, and for comparison (comparison), the change in humidity when humidification is performed by self-loyly is illustrated by a dashed line.

[0040] As shown by the dashed line in Figure 5, when self-loyly is performed regularly, humidity rises significantly immediately after self-loyly, and then decreases over time, a cycle that repeats periodically. In this case, the increase in humidity immediately after self-loyly has a strong effect of promoting sweating, but some users may feel short of breath due to excessive humidity. On the other hand, if humidity decreases over time, the shortness of breath is alleviated, but the effect of promoting sweating is not as effective.

[0041] In contrast, according to the humidification system 15 of this embodiment, the mist MS is not supplied sporadically, but is supplied continuously without interruption unless conditions such as a water shortage or an upper temperature limit are met. This prevents humidity from changing over time. A small amount of water is gradually evaporated (evaporated). This prevents humidity from becoming excessively high or low. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the humidity in the sauna room 11 fluctuates gradually but is maintained at approximately 35%.

[0042] The supply ports 64 for supplying the mist MS are arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction of the bench 31, i.e., along the airflow direction along the floor 21 (see FIG. 2). This is a device for increasing the amount of mist MS supplied to the retention area RA while suppressing uneven distribution of the mist MS in the retention area RA. This configuration makes it possible to cover almost the entire floor 21 with the mist MS. The mist MS retained in the retention area RA evaporates over time. By evaporating the mist MS over a wide area, uneven humidity distribution due to location within the sauna room 11 can be alleviated. For example, when performing a loyly (laiyū) by pouring water on the heating unit 12 (sauna stones 42), humidity rises significantly around the heating unit 12. With this configuration, humidity may vary depending on location within the sauna room 11. Although such humidity differences are alleviated by convection currents occurring within the sauna room 11, the humidity does not necessarily become uniform. In this regard, if the mist MS is configured to stagnate so as to cover the floor portion 21 as described above, the thinly spread stagnant mist MS will evaporate over a wide area, and humidity imbalances due to position can be suitably alleviated. This contributes to stabilizing the humidity in the sauna room 11. Incidentally, as described above, the mist MS appears cloudy and whitish. This can be expected to create the effect (visual effect) of making the sauna room 11 appear as if it were above the clouds.

[0043] According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following excellent effects can be expected.

[0044] According to the humidification system 15 shown in the embodiment above, the mist MS supplied to the sauna room 11 is partially evaporated (evaporated) while it is moving toward the heating unit 12, i.e., while it is accumulating in the accumulation area RA, thereby preventing the humidity in the sauna room 11 from becoming excessively high or low, thereby contributing to stabilizing the humidity. This makes it possible to raise the sensible temperature through humidification, thereby promoting sweating, while also preventing the occurrence of problems such as breathlessness due to excessive humidity.

[0045] In particular, if the mist MS is configured to remain in an area (retention area RA) along the floor portion 21, the remaining mist MS is prevented from evaporating all at once, and large humidity differences depending on the distance from the heating unit 12 or the air intake 62 can be prevented. In particular, since the mist MS moves along the air flow along the floor portion 21, it is possible to suitably alleviate bias in the evaporation position. Furthermore, the mist MS rides on the air flow toward the heating unit 12, which is the heat source, and is evaporated (vaporized) all at once at the heating unit 12 or its periphery. Here, the remaining mist MS is guided to the heating unit 12 in order by the above-mentioned air flow, which prevents the supplied mist MS from rushing toward the heating unit 12 and being evaporated all at once. This is preferable for stabilizing humidity.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the mist MS is sent into the sauna room 11 using air heated in the sauna room 11. This configuration makes it possible to prevent a drop in the temperature of the sauna room 11 due to the supply of the mist MS. In particular, the air intake 62 is provided in a relatively low-temperature location within the sauna room 11 (a location away from high-temperature locations). Specifically, it is provided in a position where the temperature is approximately the same as (slightly lower than) the temperature of the stagnation area RA near the floor 21. This prevents the supplied mist MS from immediately rising together with the humidifying air HA and heading toward the ceiling 22, i.e., from immediately evaporating due to the influence of the high-temperature air.

[0047] Furthermore, the sauna room 11 is configured to generate an air flow (convection) along the floor 21, and the mist MS (humidifying air HA) supplied to the retention area RA rides on this air flow and moves toward the heating unit 12. A configuration that utilizes this air flow is advantageous in suppressing the generation of an air flow toward the ceiling 22 near the floor 21 compared to a case where this air flow does not occur. In other words, this is preferable in realizing a configuration that causes the mist MS to retain in the retention area RA.

[0048] The supply port 64 shown in the above embodiment is arranged so that the heating unit 12 is not located on an extension of the supply port 64, and is configured so that the supply direction of the mist MS intersects with the direction of air flow near the floor portion 21. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the supplied mist MS from moving forcefully toward the heating unit 12. This is preferable in terms of increasing the retention time of the mist MS.

[0049] The spray device 51 (mist generating unit 57) shown in the above embodiment is an ultrasonic type, and does not require heating of water to generate the mist MS. Being able to generate the mist MS without heating is advantageous in that it prevents the mist MS supplied to the sauna room 11 from rising together with the humidifying air HA immediately after supply.

[0050] In the humidification system 15 shown in the above embodiment, by retaining the mist MS in the area (floor portion 21) that is used as an aisle by users of the sauna 10, it is possible to prevent the sauna room 11 from becoming larger or the number of people that can be accommodated from becoming smaller when realizing a configuration that retains the mist MS.

[0051] By installing the heating unit 12 in a section of the retention area RA where the mist MS is retained, while using a protective fence or the like to prevent the movement of the mist MS toward the heating unit 12, the mist MS that has retained to a certain extent will evaporate (evaporate) in or around the heating unit 12. This is preferable in terms of preventing the mist MS from retaining for an excessively long time and adhering to the floor 21, etc. In particular, when configuring the retention area RA using the floor 21 that functions as a passageway, it is technically significant to consider the safety of users by preventing the mist MS from adhering to the floor 21.

[0052] Although the supply ports 64 described above are disposed at the user's feet, the mist MS emitted from these supply ports 64 is at the same temperature as the room temperature of the sauna room 11 (the temperature near the floor 21). Therefore, even if the mist MS hits the user's feet, it is possible to prevent this from becoming a factor that impairs comfort. Furthermore, since restrictions on the placement of the supply ports 64 can be relaxed, it is advantageous to realize a configuration in which multiple supply ports 64 are dispersed to allow the mist MS to remain over a wider area.

[0053] The mist MS shown in this embodiment is made of finely atomized water, and appears cloudy due to the reflection of light from the light source in the sauna room 11. In other words, by allowing the mist MS to remain on the floor 21 and covering the floor 21 with the mist MS, a visual effect (theatrical effect) can be achieved, making the user feel as if they are floating on clouds. Realizing such an unprecedented and innovative sauna is desirable in terms of improving user satisfaction, etc.

[0054] In addition, configuring the heating unit 12 installed in the sauna room 11 to include sauna stones 42 is preferable not only for maintaining the temperature of the sauna room 11, but also for enhancing the visual satisfaction of users by creating a sauna-like atmosphere. While the heating unit 12 is configured to be located in the retention area RA of the mist MS, by configuring at least a portion of the sauna stones 42 to protrude upward from the retention area RA, it is possible to prevent the sauna stones 42 from being hidden by the mist MS. This is preferable for improving the visual satisfaction described above. Furthermore, configuring a portion of the heating unit 12 (the sauna stones 42) to protrude from the retention area RA is also preferable for user safety.

[0055] <Other embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be implemented as follows: Each of the following configurations may be applied individually to the above-described embodiments, or a part or all of the configurations may be combined and applied to the above-described embodiments.

[0056] (1) In the above embodiment, the mist MS is configured to accumulate in the passageway portion (above the floor 21) in the sauna room 11. However, instead of or in addition to this, it is also possible to configure the mist MS to accumulate in a portion of the sauna room 11 other than the passageway portion. For example, it is also possible to provide a partition surrounding the heating unit 12 (sauna stones 42), which is the "heat source portion," and to configure the mist MS to accumulate in the portion surrounded by the partition. However, in order to achieve the various effects described in the above embodiment while saving space in the sauna room 11, there is technical significance in configuring the mist MS to accumulate in the passageway portion of the sauna room 11.

[0057] The retention area RA, which is the area where the mist MS is retained, is set to be the area between the floor 21 and the seat surface 32a of the lower section 32 of the bench 31, but is not limited to this. For example, it may be set to be the area between the floor 21 and the seat surface of the middle section 33 of the bench 31, or it may be set to be the area between the floor 21 and the seat surface of the upper section 34 of the bench 31.

[0058] (2) In the above embodiment, the supply port 64, which is the outlet for the mist MS (humidifying air HA), is disposed on the bench 31. However, for example, the outlet can also be disposed on the walls 23 to 25 or floor 21 of the sauna room 11. Furthermore, instead of disposing the outlet for the mist MS in a position closer to the floor 21, it may be disposed in a position closer to the ceiling 22. However, in order to cause the mist MS to accumulate in the accumulation area RA along the floor 21 and gradually evaporate the mist MS as shown in the above embodiment, there is technical significance in disposing the outlet in a position closer to the floor 21, more specifically, in the vicinity of the floor 21.

[0059] (3) In the humidification system 15 shown in the above embodiment, the air intake 62 serving as an intake port is disposed in the sauna room 11 to take in heated air from within the sauna room 11, but this is not limited to this. It is also possible to take in air from outside the sauna room 11, for example, air that is cooler than the room temperature of the sauna room 11 (such as air from the machine room 18 or outside air). In the above embodiment, the air intake 62 serving as an intake port is disposed in the area IA surrounded by the bench 31 and the walls 23 to 25, but the location of the air intake may be changed as desired. However, in order to keep the temperature of the supplied mist MS (humidification air HA) low, it is preferable to position the air intake away from high-temperature areas such as the periphery of the heating unit 12 or near the ceiling 22.

[0060] (4) In the above embodiment, the sauna room 11 is provided with one heating unit 12, which is a "heat source," but the number of "heat sources" is arbitrary, and it is also possible to provide multiple "heat sources" (for example, two, three, or four). Note that the type of "heat source" is arbitrary, but it is preferable that at least one of the heating units has sauna stones and a stove.

[0061] (5) In the above embodiment, the heating unit 12, which is the "heat source," is disposed in the retention area RA. However, it is sufficient for the heating unit 12 to be disposed in a position that can be reached by the mist MS supplied from the supply port 64. This does not mean that the heating unit 12 may be disposed outside the retention area RA. Note that, in the above embodiment, the heating unit 12 is disposed in a position that is not on the extension of the supply port 64, but it is also possible to dispose the heating unit 12 on the extension of the supply port 64.

[0062] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the mist MS supplied from the supply port 64 to the sauna room 11 remains in the retention area RA, which is an area along the floor 21, and the remaining mist MS is guided to the heating unit 12 by the airflow within the sauna room 11 (by the airflow along the floor 21), but this is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figure 6, it is also possible to arrange the supply port 64X in the peripheral area SA of the heating unit 12 and blow the mist MS toward the heating unit 12 (sauna stones 42).

[0063] (6) In the above embodiment, a portion of the heating unit 12 (group of sauna stones 42) is configured to protrude upward from the area where the mist MS is retained (retention area RA), but it is also possible to configure the entire heating unit 12 to fit within the retention area RA.

[0064] (7) In the above embodiment, the heating unit 12 is configured with a gas stove 41, sauna stones 42 stacked on the gas stove 41, and a frame 43 that houses the sauna stones 42. However, the specific configuration of the heating unit 12 may be changed as desired as long as it can promote the evaporation of the mist MS. For example, the heating unit 12 may be electric instead of gas-fired, or may be firewood-fired. Furthermore, the sauna stones 42 may be made of metal, such as refractory ceramic, instead of natural stone.

[0065] (8) In the above embodiment, an ultrasonic mist generating unit 57 is used as the “mist generating unit.” However, the mist generating method is not limited to the ultrasonic type, as long as it is possible to generate mist with small particles while suppressing the temperature of the mist MS (humidifying air HA) supplied to the sauna room 11.

[0066] (9) In the above embodiment, an ultrasonic mist generator is used to generate fine droplets with a diameter of approximately 4 to 5 micrometers. However, the size of the droplets is not limited to this. For example, the diameter may be configured to be smaller than 4 micrometers or larger than 5 micrometers. However, if the diameter is too small, the mist becomes less visible, and if the diameter is too large, the mist tends to fall (retention time becomes shorter). For these reasons, it is preferable that the diameter of the fine particles generated by the ultrasonic mist generator be approximately 4 to 5 micrometers.

[0067] (10) In the above embodiment, the supply of mist MS is stopped when the temperature of the air taken in through the intake port 62 (intake air temperature) reaches a set upper limit temperature, but this is not limited to this. It is also possible to configure the system so that an upper limit temperature is not set. Furthermore, when the intake air temperature exceeds the upper limit temperature, it is also possible to configure the system so that the temperature of the mist MS (humidifying air HA) is adjusted to a predetermined temperature by, for example, mixing air that is cooler than the intake air temperature (e.g., outside air).

[0068] (11) In the above embodiment, a configuration was described in which the supply of mist MS continues uninterrupted when the spray device 51 is powered on, except when a stop condition is met. However, this does not preclude a configuration in which the supply of mist MS is temporarily stopped, either periodically or irregularly. However, compared to, for example, self-loyly, which generates steam by pouring water directly onto the heating unit 12 (sauna stones 42), the amount of water supplied per unit time with mist MS may be smaller. Therefore, in order to stabilize the humidity in the sauna room 11, it is technically significant to configure the supply of mist MS to continue as long as possible, and it is preferable that the supply period of mist MS be at least longer than the supply stop period.

[0069] (12) In addition to the humidification using mist MS described in the above embodiment, automatic humidification (so-called auto-loyly) may be performed by periodically supplying a fixed amount of water to the sauna stones 42 of the heating unit 12. Even in this case, since humidification using mist MS is performed, the amount of water supplied can be reduced, making it less likely that the humidity will become excessively high when a fixed amount of water is supplied. Note that it is also possible to perform self-loyly, in which the user pours water by hand, instead of or in addition to auto-loyly.

[0070] (13) In the above embodiment, the mist MS is generated from water. However, it may also be generated from water containing a small amount of radiation. Specifically, natural stones such as radium ore or radon ceramics may be placed in the tank 53 so that they are immersed in the water, and the mist may be generated from the water. With such a configuration, when the mist comes into contact with the user's skin or is inhaled, it is possible to expect effects such as the effects of negative ions and the hormesis effect of small amounts of radiation, such as boosting immunity by activating biological functions. In particular, the humidification system 15 shown in the above embodiment is configured to retain the humidifying mist MS within the sauna room 11 and prevent the mist MS from becoming excessively hot, allowing users of the sauna 10 to easily enjoy the above-described benefits.

[0071] Furthermore, instead of or in addition to the above minerals, it is also possible to place a substance (object) that emits a scent, such as tea leaves, aroma oil, Chinese herbal medicine, or Japanese cypress, in the spray device 51, thereby adding a specific scent to the water from which the mist MS is generated. With such a configuration, the relaxation effect of the scent can contribute to improving the satisfaction of the user. For example, it is recommended to place the substance so that it is immersed in the water in the tank 53.

[0072] (14) In the above embodiment, the humidification system 15 is applied to the sauna 10 as a commercial facility. However, the humidification system 15 can also be applied to a home sauna.

[0073] <Features of the inventions extracted from the above embodiments> The following describes the features of the inventions extracted from the above embodiments, while indicating, as necessary, their effects, etc. Note that, for ease of understanding, the configurations of the corresponding embodiments are shown in parentheses, but the invention is not limited to the configurations shown in parentheses.

[0074] Feature 1. A sauna humidification system (humidification system 15) that is applied to a sauna room (sauna room 11) that is installed with a heat source unit (heating unit 12) and heated by the heat source unit, and humidifies the air in the sauna room. a mist generating unit (mist generating unit 57) that generates mist (mist MS) for humidification by atomizing water using ultrasonic vibrations; a supply unit (for example, a duct 61 or a fan 55) that supplies the mist generated by the mist generating unit to the sauna room; Equipped with The mist is evaporated in the sauna room to humidify the air in the sauna room. The supply unit supplies the mist to a specific area (e.g., a stagnation area RA or a peripheral area SA) in the sauna room, which is either an area surrounding the heat source or an area where air flows toward the heat source.

[0075] According to this feature, humidifying mist is supplied to a specific area, either the area surrounding the heat source or the area where air flows toward the heat source. The mist supplied to the specific area evaporates immediately upon contact with the heat source, but evaporation also progresses as it approaches the heat source. This configuration prevents the supplied mist from evaporating all at once, thereby suppressing rapid changes in humidity. For example, in saunas, humidification is sometimes achieved by pouring water directly onto the heat source to evaporate it (a process known as loyly). However, because water poured onto the heat source evaporates immediately, temporal variations in humidity can occur. In this regard, the configuration described in this feature can easily mitigate such variations. This is advantageous for stabilizing the humidity in the sauna room and improving the sauna's relaxation effects.

[0076] Furthermore, in a configuration in which humidifying mist is generated by ultrasonic vibration, for example, there is no need to heat water to a boil, and the mist temperature can be prevented from becoming too high. By supplying mist at a lower temperature, the mist can be prevented from instantly evaporating immediately after supply, and the time until the mist evaporates can be increased. In this way, increasing the time until evaporation is advantageous in suppressing sudden changes in humidity and stabilizing the humidity.

[0077] Feature 2: A sauna humidification system (humidification system 15) that is applied to a sauna room (sauna room 11) that is installed with a heat source unit (heating unit 12) and heated by the heat source unit, and that humidifies the air in the sauna room. a mist generating unit (mist generating unit 57) that generates mist (mist MS) for humidification by atomizing water using ultrasonic vibrations; a supply unit (for example, a duct 61 or a fan 55) that supplies the mist generated by the mist generating unit to the sauna room; Equipped with The mist supplied by the supply unit is temporarily retained in a specific area (retention area RA) of the sauna room. The heat source unit is disposed in the specific region or in the vicinity of the specific region, A sauna humidification system characterized by evaporating (evaporating) at least a portion of the mist accumulating in the specific area as it approaches the heat source when humidifying the air in the sauna room with the mist.

[0078] According to this feature, a heat source is disposed in or near a specific area to which humidifying mist is supplied. The mist supplied to the specific area temporarily stagnates in the specific area. The stagnate mist is vaporized immediately upon contact with the heat source, but at least a portion of it evaporates as it approaches the heat source. This configuration prevents the mist from evaporating all at once, thereby preventing abrupt changes in humidity. For example, in saunas, humidification is sometimes achieved by pouring water directly onto the heat source to evaporate it (a process known as loyly). However, because water poured onto the heat source evaporates immediately, temporal variations in humidity can occur. In this regard, the configuration described in this feature can easily mitigate such variations. This is advantageous for stabilizing the humidity in the sauna room and improving the sauna's relaxation effect. The mist stagnation configuration is also advantageous for preventing abrupt decreases in humidity.

[0079] Furthermore, in a configuration in which humidifying mist is generated by ultrasonic vibration, for example, there is no need to heat water to a boil, and the mist temperature can be prevented from becoming too high. By supplying mist at a lower temperature, the mist can be prevented from instantly evaporating immediately after supply, and the time until the mist evaporates can be increased. In this way, increasing the time until evaporation is advantageous in suppressing sudden changes in humidity and stabilizing the humidity.

[0080] Feature 3: A sauna humidification system (humidification system 15) that is applied to a sauna room (sauna room 11) that is installed with a heat source unit (heating unit 12) and heated by the heat source unit, and that humidifies the air in the sauna room, a mist generating unit (mist generating unit 57) that generates mist (mist MS) for humidification by atomizing water using ultrasonic vibrations; a supply unit (for example, a duct 61 or a fan 55) that supplies the mist generated by the mist generating unit to the sauna room; Equipped with The mist supplied by the supply unit is temporarily retained in a specific area (retention area RA) where air flows toward the heat source unit. This sauna humidification system is characterized in that when the mist is used to humidify the air in the sauna room, at least a portion of the mist stagnating in the specific area is vaporized (evaporated) as the air flows and moves toward the heat source.

[0081] According to this feature, the humidifying mist supplied to the sauna room temporarily stagnates in a specific area where air flows toward the heat source. The stagnate mist is immediately vaporized upon contact with the heat source, but at least a portion of it evaporates as it approaches the heat source. This configuration prevents the supplied mist from evaporating all at once, thereby suppressing abrupt changes in humidity. For example, in saunas, humidification is sometimes achieved by pouring water directly onto the heat source to evaporate it (a process known as loyly). However, because water poured onto the heat source evaporates immediately, temporal variations in humidity can occur. In this regard, the configuration described in this feature can easily mitigate such variations. This is advantageous for stabilizing the humidity in the sauna room and improving the sauna's relaxation effect. The configuration that retains the mist is also advantageous for suppressing abrupt decreases in humidity.

[0082] Furthermore, in a configuration in which humidifying mist is generated by ultrasonic vibration, for example, there is no need to heat water to a boil, and the mist temperature can be prevented from becoming too high. By supplying mist at a lower temperature, the mist can be prevented from instantly evaporating immediately after supply, and the time until the mist evaporates can be increased. In this way, increasing the time until evaporation is advantageous in suppressing sudden changes in humidity and stabilizing the humidity.

[0083] Feature 4: The sauna humidification system according to Feature 2 or Feature 3, wherein the specific area is configured to have a lower temperature than the surrounding area of ​​the specific area.

[0084] As shown in this feature, by making the specific area where the humidifying mist is supplied a lower temperature than the surrounding area, the evaporation (evaporation) of the mist supplied to the specific area can be delayed. This is preferable in order to increase the retention period of the mist when retaining the mist in the specific area, as shown in Feature 2 and other features. In realizing such a configuration, it is preferable to prevent the temperature of the mist (humidifying air containing mist) from becoming too high. However, as shown in Feature 2 and other features above, a configuration that generates mist by ultrasonic vibrations does not require heating, which is advantageous in realizing a configuration that suppresses the temperature of the mist (humidifying air containing mist).

[0085] Feature 5: The supply unit has a supply port (supply port 64) for supplying the mist to the sauna room, The sauna humidification system according to Feature 4, wherein the supply port is disposed in the specific area or in a position adjacent to the specific area.

[0086] As shown in Feature 4, in a configuration in which evaporation is intentionally delayed by suppressing the temperature of the mist supply destination (specific area), there is a concern that the mist discharged from the supply port may evaporate as it reaches the specific area, thereby preventing the effects shown in Feature 2, etc. In this regard, by arranging the supply port in the specific area or in a position adjacent to the specific area, as shown in this feature, such concerns can be easily resolved.

[0087] Feature 6: The supply unit is configured to take in air from an air intake (air intake 62) provided in the sauna room, and supply the mist generated by the mist generating unit to the specific area by carrying the mist on the air. A sauna humidification system described in any one of Features 2 to 5, characterized in that the air intake is arranged in a part of the sauna room where the temperature is lower than the ceiling part of the sauna room (ceiling part 22) and the area around the heat source part.

[0088] As noted in Feature 2, in order to keep the humidifying mist in a specific area, it is undesirable for the temperature of the mist (the humidifying air that carries the mist) to be too high. This is because the supplied mist would rise with the humidifying air (moving away from the specific area) and evaporate rapidly. On the other hand, if the temperature of the air being taken in is low, the amount of mist that can be supplied will also be reduced. For these reasons, a practically preferable configuration can be easily achieved by locating the air intake away from high-temperature areas in the sauna room (the ceiling and the area around the heat source), i.e., by locating it in an area where the temperature is lower than the high-temperature areas.

[0089] Feature 7: The specific area is an area along the floor portion (floor portion 21) of the sauna room, The supply unit has a supply port (supply port 64) for supplying the mist to the sauna room, The sauna humidifying system according to any one of Features 1 to 6, wherein the supply port is disposed in the floor portion or in the vicinity of the floor portion.

[0090] The temperature of a sauna room varies depending on the location, and for example, the temperature on the floor side is lower than the temperature on the ceiling side. Therefore, as shown in this feature, by setting a specific area along the floor of the sauna room and arranging a supply port on or around the floor, it is possible to easily realize a configuration in which the humidifying mist (humidified air) supplied to the specific area is temporarily retained in the specific area. For example, it is recommended to configure the humidifying mist to be retained by covering the floor.

[0091] Feature 8. A sauna humidification system according to Feature 7, wherein the specific area functions as a passageway for users to move around within the sauna room.

[0092] The configuration of trapping humidifying mist in a specific area has the technical significance described above. However, dedicating an area of ​​the sauna room to trapping mist can cause space pressure and hinder user satisfaction. In this regard, by using the sauna room's passageway as a trapping area for mist, as shown in this feature, the above-mentioned concerns can be alleviated.

[0093] Feature 9: A sauna humidification system according to Feature 7 or Feature 8, in which the mist supplied to the specific area moves along the floor portion toward the heat source due to convection occurring within the sauna room.

[0094] By using convection in the sauna room to move (guide) the mist toward the heat source, evaporation due to the heat of the heat source is promoted, which makes it less likely that the floor will become overly wet due to stagnant mist.

[0095] Feature 10 (Direction of Supply Port): The supply unit has a supply port (supply port 64) for supplying the mist to the sauna room, A sauna humidification system described in any one of Features 1 to 9, characterized in that the supply port is arranged so that the heat source unit is located at a position that is off the extension of the supply port.

[0096] This feature prevents the mist supplied to the sauna room through the supply port from moving forcefully toward the heat source, which is preferable for increasing the retention time of the mist, as described in feature 2, for example.

[0097] Feature 11 (Independent): A sauna humidification system (humidification system 15) that is applied to a sauna room (sauna room 11) that is installed with a heat source unit (heating unit 12) and heated by the heat source unit, and humidifies the air in the sauna room. a mist generating unit (mist generating unit 57) that generates mist (mist MS) for humidification by atomizing water using ultrasonic vibrations; a supply unit (for example, a duct 61 or a fan 55) that supplies the mist generated by the mist generating unit to the sauna room; Equipped with The mist is evaporated in the sauna room to humidify the air in the sauna room. The temperature of the floor (floor 21) side of the sauna room is lower than the temperature of the ceiling (ceiling 22) side, The supply unit supplies the mist to a specific area (retention area RA) that is an area along the floor portion (floor portion 21) of the sauna room.

[0098] According to this feature, mist for humidification is supplied to a specific area along the floor of the sauna room. The mist supplied to the specific area evaporates immediately upon contact with the heat source, but evaporation continues while it remains there. This prevents the supplied mist from evaporating all at once, thereby suppressing sudden changes in humidity. For example, in saunas, humidification is sometimes achieved by pouring water directly onto the heat source to evaporate it (a process known as loyly). However, because water poured onto the heat source evaporates immediately, temporal variations in humidity can occur. In this regard, the feature described above can easily mitigate such variations. This is advantageous for stabilizing the humidity in the sauna room and improving the sauna's relaxation effects.

[0099] Furthermore, in a configuration in which humidifying mist is generated by ultrasonic vibration, for example, there is no need to heat water to a boil, and the mist temperature can be prevented from becoming too high. By supplying mist at a lower temperature, the mist is prevented from instantly evaporating immediately after supply, and the time until the mist evaporates can be increased. In this way, increasing the time until evaporation is advantageous for suppressing sudden changes in humidity and stabilizing the humidity. In particular, in this configuration, the temperature on the floor side is lower than that on the ceiling side, and a specific area is set along the floor. This is advantageous for increasing the time until the mist evaporates.

[0100] Feature 12: A sauna humidification system according to any one of Features 1 to 11, wherein the mist generating unit is a non-heating type generating unit that generates the mist without heating water.

[0101] This feature configuration can prevent the supplied mist (humidifying air containing mist) from becoming too hot and shortening its residence time. In particular, when a specific area is set near the floor, as described in feature 7, the mist can be prevented from becoming too hot, preventing the supplied mist from hitting the user. This is advantageous in terms of increasing the flexibility of the supply port placement, i.e., easing restrictions on the position, orientation, and number of supply ports.

[0102] Feature 13 (Sauna): A sauna equipped with the humidification system according to any one of Features 1 to 12.

[0103] A sauna with these characteristics can stabilize the humidity in the sauna room, contributing to improving the relaxation effect of the sauna.

[0104] Feature 14 (Sauna): A sauna as described in Feature 13, characterized in that the heat of the heat source installed in the sauna room causes convection within the sauna room, and the mist supplied to the specific area is guided toward the heat source by the convection.

[0105] By using the convection (thermal convection) that occurs in the sauna room to guide mist stagnating in a specific area toward the heat source, it is possible to prevent the mist from not evaporating properly and adhering to the floor, etc.

[0106] Feature 15 (Humidification method). A humidification method for humidifying the air in a sauna room (sauna room 11) in which a heat source unit (heating unit 12) is installed and heated by the heat source unit, Mist (Mist MS) is generated by micronizing water with ultrasonic vibrations. The mist is supplied to a specific area (for example, a stagnation area RA or a peripheral area SA) in the sauna room, which is either an area around the heat source or an area where air flows toward the heat source, A humidification method in which the mist supplied to the specific area is vaporized (evaporated) by the heat of the heat source.

[0107] According to the humidification method described above, the humidity in the sauna room can be stabilized, which contributes to improving the relaxation effect of the sauna.

[0108] Feature 16 (Humidification method). A humidification method for humidifying the air in a sauna room (sauna room 11) in which a heat source unit (heating unit 12) is installed and heated by the heat source unit, Mist (Mist MS) is generated by micronizing water with ultrasonic vibrations. The mist is supplied to a specific area (for example, a stagnation area RA or a peripheral area SA) in the sauna room, which is either an area around the heat source or an area where air flows toward the heat source, A humidification method in which at least a portion of the mist supplied to the specific area is vaporized (evaporated) by the heat of the heat source while the mist temporarily remains in the specific area.

[0109] According to the humidification method described above, the humidity in the sauna room can be stabilized, which contributes to improving the relaxation effect of the sauna. [Explanation of symbols]

[0110] 10...sauna, 11...sauna room, 12...heating unit, 15...humidification system, 21...floor, 22...ceiling, 31...bench, 32...lower section, 41...gas stove, 42...sauna stones, 51...spray device, 54...vibrator, 55...fan, 56...control board, 57...mist generating section, 61...duct, 62...air intake, 63...air intake piping, 64...supply port, 65...supply piping, RA...stagnation area, SA...surrounding area, MS...mist, HA...humidified air.

Claims

1. A sauna humidification system that is applied to a sauna room in which a heat source unit is installed and the temperature is raised by the heat source unit, and that humidifies the air in the sauna room, a mist generating unit that generates mist for humidification by atomizing water using ultrasonic vibrations; a supply unit that supplies the mist generated by the mist generating unit to the sauna room; Equipped with The mist is evaporated in the sauna room to humidify the air in the sauna room. A sauna humidification system characterized in that the supply unit supplies the mist to a specific area in the sauna room, which is either an area around the heat source or an area where air flows toward the heat source.

2. A sauna humidification system that is applied to a sauna room in which a heat source unit is installed and the temperature is raised by the heat source unit, and that humidifies the air in the sauna room, a mist generating unit that generates mist for humidification by atomizing water using ultrasonic vibrations; a supply unit that supplies the mist generated by the mist generating unit to the sauna room; Equipped with The mist supplied by the supply unit is temporarily retained in a specific area of ​​the sauna room, The heat source unit is disposed in the specific region or in the vicinity of the specific region, A sauna humidification system characterized in that when the mist is used to humidify the air in the sauna room, at least a portion of the mist stagnating in the specific area is vaporized as it approaches the heat source.

3. A sauna humidification system that is applied to a sauna room in which a heat source unit is installed and the temperature is raised by the heat source unit, and that humidifies the air in the sauna room, a mist generating unit that generates mist for humidification by atomizing water using ultrasonic vibrations; a supply unit that supplies the mist generated by the mist generating unit to the sauna room; Equipped with The mist supplied by the supply unit is temporarily retained in a specific area where an air flow toward the heat source unit occurs, This sauna humidification system is characterized in that when the mist is used to humidify the air in the sauna room, at least a portion of the mist stagnating in the specific area is evaporated as it moves toward the heat source section due to the air flow.

4. 4. The sauna humidifying system according to claim 1, wherein the specific area is configured to have a lower temperature than the surrounding area of ​​the specific area.

5. The specific area is an area along the floor of the sauna room, The supply unit has a supply port for supplying the mist to the sauna room, 4. The sauna humidifying system according to claim 1, wherein the supply port is disposed in the floor portion or in the vicinity of the floor portion.

6. The sauna humidification system according to claim 5, wherein the specific area functions as a passageway for users to move around within the sauna room.

7. A sauna equipped with a humidification system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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