Sauna Heating and Humidifying Unit with Bent Duct
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sauna devices require high energy consumption and running costs, generate uncomfortable noise, and create humidification issues such as fogged glasses and droplet adhesion, while also being cumbersome and costly due to complex structures and large component counts.
Innovation Solution
A sauna device with a heating/humidifying unit that heats and humidifies air without a water heater, using a vapor-liquid separation unit to minimize droplet size and a bent air-blowing duct to reduce noise, along with a simplified structure that integrates the humidifying section into the air circulation duct.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If water is heated to 50-60°C by steam heater for injection, then humidification effect is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of injected water from hot water (50-60°C) to cold water (room temperature), and compensates by increasing the air flow rate and adjusting the air-water mixing ratio, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining humidification effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the thermal heating system (steam heater) with a mechanical mixing system (blower + water injection), where kinetic energy of air flow is used to mix with cold water instead of thermal energy for heating water
2Productivity
If hot water is directly injected from nozzle into bathroom, then humidification efficiency is improved, but bodily sensation becomes uncomfortable due to droplet contact
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from direct liquid injection to aerosolization by mixing water with high-velocity air flow, transforming the state from liquid droplets to fine mist particles suspended in air, thereby preventing droplet adhesion while maintaining humidification efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces air as an intermediary medium between water and human body, where air carries water molecules in vaporized or fine mist form, preventing direct liquid-water contact with skin while achieving humidification
3Temperature
If two heaters (hot-air heater and steam heater) are used in combination, then heating and humidification effects are improved, but device complexity and running cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of hot-air heater and steam heater into a single integrated system where a blower heats and circulates air while simultaneously injecting and mixing with cold water, achieving both heating and humidification with one device
Solution Approach 2:
The blower system serves multiple functions: heating air, circulating air, and mixing with injected water to produce humidified air flow, replacing the need for separate heating and humidification devices
4Temperature
If huge amount of injection water is used to increase inside temperature, then heating effect is improved, but energy consumption increases further
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses continuous air circulation and mixing rather than intermittent water injection, maintaining steady-state humidified air flow that efficiently raises temperature without requiring large batches of water
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic air flow to transport and distribute water molecules throughout the space, leveraging the high specific heat capacity of air to distribute thermal energy efficiently without requiring excessive water volume
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 reduces energy consumption and running costs, minimizes noise, and creates a clear, high-humidity sauna space with reduced component count and weight, allowing for comfortable use without droplet adhesion issues.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation blowing section for circulating the air in the sauna room and a heating section for heating the air
Implementation Method 2
a humidifying section for humidifying the heated air having passed through the heating section
Implementation Method 3
a vapor-liquid separation unit for separating large droplets having a predetermined size or more and micro droplets
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a sauna device having a small number of components without any special heat source, operable at a low running cost, and capable of turning a sauna room into a high humidity space with low noise. The sauna device has a heating/humidifying unit for heating/humidifying air, a ventilating unit for exhausting the air in the sauna room, and a control unit for controlling the heating/humidifying unit and the ventilating unit. The heating/humidifying unit has a heating section for heating the air through a circulation blowing section for circulating the air in the sauna room and a humidifying section for humidifying the heated air having passed through the heating section. The humidified air is blown out into the sauna room through the humidifying section. A bent portion where the air-blowing duct through which the humidified air having passed through the humidifying section passes is bent is provided.