Device for producing water droplets for air humidification and a humidification system with such devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air humidification technologies are not cost-effective, energy-efficient, or hygienically safe for everyday use in decentralized installations, particularly in rooms and compartments, and often lead to water leakage and residual issues.
Innovation Solution
A device with a through duct, a valve arrangement, and a mesh droplet generator, controlled by a unit, which prevents water leakage and residual issues by using a perforated membrane, pressure equalization, and a system for controlled humidification with sensors, ensuring safe and efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a piezoceramic vibrator or ultrasonic transducer is used to generate atomized water droplets, then fine water droplets are produced for humidification, but water leakage and residual water problems occur when the humidifier stops operation
Solution Approach 1:
The disturbing element (residual water in the reservoir) is extracted by introducing a through-duct that allows continuous water flow through the reservoir, extracting residual water that would otherwise cause hygiene problems and leakage when the device stops operating
Solution Approach 2:
The through-duct is preliminarily configured to maintain continuous water flow even when the humidifier is not operating, preventing residual water accumulation before hygiene problems can occur. The valve arrangement is pre-positioned to control filling and flushing operations
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a drier or flushing system is added to remove residual water, then hygiene is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The through-duct serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the water supply path, enables residual water removal, facilitates flushing operations, and maintains pressure equilibrium. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate drier or flushing system components
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own water supply to flush and clean itself. The through-duct allows the incoming water to automatically flush residual water from the reservoir and water lines, making the system self-cleaning without requiring external drier equipment
3Manufacturing precision
If the mesh is vibrated at high frequency to produce fine droplets, then atomization quality improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses hydraulic pressure from the water supply to support and stabilize the mesh structure during vibration, reducing the energy burden on the vibration generator. The water pressure helps maintain mesh position and facilitates droplet ejection, allowing lower vibration frequencies to achieve the same atomization quality
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and hygienically safe method for humidifying compartments with fine water droplets, preventing water leakage and residual issues, and allowing for controlled and safe operation in permanent installations.
Implementation Method 1
This humidifier uses a piezoceramic vibrator at the bottom of a reservoir and provides for atomized water rising from the reservoir
Implementation Method 2
WO 2010/015124 A1 shows another humidifier with a reservoir, an ultrasonic transducer at the bottom of the reservoir
Implementation Method 3
the mesh forming the water droplet outlet of the device releasing droplets when the mesh of the droplet generator is vibrated
Implementation Method 4
There are well known devices for air humidification by evaporating water
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A humidification device (1) is shown wherein water is nebulized by a vibrating mesh with very small holes. The mesh is part of a reservoir which is fed by a valve arrangement which allows to direct water from a conduit over several water lines within the device either back to the conduit or into the reservoir. The device and a system with such devices allow to humidify and/or cool compartments such as rooms with a very fine mist of water which is hardly visually detectable. The system and device is adapted to be part of a permanent installation with low maintenance.