Sauna Air Recirculation Ducting for Uniform Heat Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sauna heaters fail to maintain uniform temperature distribution within the sauna sweat room, leading to significant temperature differences between the head and feet of users, causing discomfort and health issues, and are inefficient in energy use, especially in small or high-ceilinged rooms, while also failing to effectively utilize additional features like aromatherapy and salt therapy.
Innovation Solution
A heating apparatus comprising a heating unit with a heat accumulator, a duct system, and a ventilator unit that directs hot air from the heat accumulator to the lower section of the sauna, ensuring uniform temperature distribution and incorporating features for aromatherapy and salt therapy without additional space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If hot air is generated by the sauna heater, then the upper sections of the sauna sweat room become hot, but the lower sections remain cooler creating uneven temperature distribution
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of allowing hot air to rise naturally to the upper sections, the patent inverts the air flow direction by using a ventilator to actively circulate hot air from the upper sections back down to the lower sections, creating uniform temperature distribution throughout the room
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs temperature sensors to continuously monitor temperature distribution in different sections of the sauna room, and the control unit adjusts the ventilator operation based on this feedback to maintain uniform temperature across all areas
2Temperature
If the sauna bench is positioned at a higher level to provide adequate heat exposure, then the sauna effect is improved, but accessibility becomes difficult for children, elderly people or people using a wheelchair
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional sauna configuration by enabling effective heat exposure at lower levels through active air circulation, allowing benches to be positioned at accessible heights while still providing adequate thermal exposure through the circulated hot air
3Volume of stationary object
If the sauna sweat room has a high ceiling, then more space is available, but energy and heat are wasted heating the upper layers that do not contribute to the sauna experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous circulation of hot air from the upper sections back to the lower sections, ensuring that the heat generated in the upper volume is continuously utilized rather than being wasted, maintaining thermal efficiency throughout the entire room volume
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors monitor the temperature distribution in the room, and the control unit adjusts the ventilator operation based on this feedback to optimize energy usage by circulating air only when and where needed, preventing energy waste in high-ceilinged rooms
4Power
If open heating elements are used to heat the air, then heating efficiency is improved, but oxygen is burned out and dust is generated causing uncomfortable breathing conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful combustion process from the heating system by replacing open heating elements with enclosed heating elements, eliminating the burning of oxygen and generation of dust while maintaining heating efficiency through the enclosed design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary enclosed structure around the heating elements that prevents direct contact between the heating process and the air, allowing heat transfer while blocking the generation and circulation of harmful byproducts like dust and consumed oxygen
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 apparatus provides a comfortable and uniform sauna experience by maintaining consistent temperature throughout the room, optimizing energy use, and enabling effective use of additional features like aromatherapy and salt therapy, making it accessible to all users and reducing energy waste.
Implementation Method 1
a heat accumulator at least partially surrounding the at least one heating element
Implementation Method 2
the heating elements of the sauna heater are heating the rocks, which accumulate the heat and constantly release the heat into the sauna sweat room
Implementation Method 3
at least one ventilator unit located lower from a central area of the duct between the first end and the second end of the duct, the at least one ventilator unit is configured to direct at least part of the hot air heated by the heat accumulator from the at least one first air inlet towards the second end
Implementation Method 4
The sauna heater comprises heating elements and rocks. The heating elements of the sauna heater are heating the rocks
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, method and computer program of heating a sauna sweat room for providing a comfortable temperature and environment in the sauna sweat room for a pleasant sauna experience. The apparatus includes a heating unit comprising a heat accumulator and a duct for collecting a hot air and a cool air and enabling the mix of the collected hot and cool air for providing homogenous temperature in the sauna sweat room. The method includes receiving the hot air heated by the heat accumulator in the at least one duct, receiving in the at least one duct the cool air, mixing the received hot air with the received cool air to obtain a mixed air stream, directing at least part of the mixed air stream towards a lower section of the sauna sweat room via the second end of the at least one duct.