DK3167864T3

DK3167864T3 - Device for adjusting the indoor climate in a sauna and adjusting method

Info

Publication number: DK3167864T3
Application number: DK15194177.0T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Andrus Vare
Original assignee: Saunum Group Oue
Priority date: 2015-11-11
Filing date: 2015-11-11
Publication date: 2019-02-11
Also published as: LT3167865T; ES2788525T3; DK3167865T3; PL3167864T3; EP3167865A1; EP3167864B1; EP3167865B1; PL3167865T3; LT3167864T; EP3167864A1

Description

DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention [0001] The invention relates to the field of sanitary engineering, and more specifically sauna technology. The invention is a sauna indoor climate adjusting device, which allows to adjust/harmonize the internal temperature and/or the CO2 level and/or humidity inside of a sauna, and the different methods of making the sauna indoor climate more comfortable for the user.

State of the art [0002] Devices for adjusting and harmonizing the temperate of a sauna are known from the state of the art. Common devices, however, do not enable a harmonious adjustment of the sauna temperature, as the hot steam collects to the upper air layers of the sauna, leaving the bottom air layers cooler.

[0003] Korean patent application KR20100106076 discloses a ventilation fan for the circulation of hot air in a sauna, whereby the ventilation fan is steam-powered. The device provided, however, generates a rapid circulation of hot air, or wind, in the sauna, which burns when being exposed to the body.

[0004] Finnish patent F1102514 discloses a sauna heater, which directs hot steam downward, unlike known sauna heaters. While the result is a more evenly heated sauna, the device provided does not mix the cooler lower air layers with the upper air layers.

[0005] Finnish patent FI90820 discloses a device that consists of a collector above the heater as well as pipes which direct the hot steam to the sauna benches. The device provided does not heat both the lower and upper air layers, and that is the reason why the temperatures of the lower and upper air layers are different, causing discomfort.

[0006] European Patent EP0121500A2 discloses a device as described in the preamble of claim 1.

[0007] In order to achieve an overall uniform temperature and feeling of comfort, the hot air from the upper air layers of the sauna must be directed into the lower air layers of the sauna, by mixing these, and in a manner that would avoid causing discomfort due to the so-called hot wind, cool and mix the air with cooler air from the lower layers before discharging it into the "targeted spot (or spots)". Existing solutions in accordance with the state of the art do not enable mixing of the air layers.

[0008] As known from the state of the art, the oxygen used by people for breathing in the sauna, and the resulting heightened CO2 level in the sauna, are compensated by continuously ventilating with ambient air. This occurs while human beings are in the room as well as when no one is in the room that is being heated. Such a process requires additional heating to maintain the temperature balance, and is not energy efficient. Known sauna solutions are not very healthy, because the process of increasing fresh air is uncontrollable and the CO2 level may therefore exceed the healthy limit.

Summary of the invention [0009] The present invention is related to a sauna indoor climate adjusting device as disclosed in claim 1 and method as disclosed in claim 12 for adjusting it, through which the climate ofthe sauna is made more comfortable. With most saunas, there is a so called discomfort while enjoying the pleasures of the sauna, which means that because the head is located in the hottest part ofthe sauna and the feet in the coolest part, in most cases, the sauna steam is too sudden and sharp for a person, causing stress in the body and along with that, tedium and fatigue. The device provided with the invention allows adjusting the climate of a sauna and compensating for the feeling of discomfort. With the device provided, it is easy to direct a portion of the steam to the lower air layers of the sauna by adjusting the output of the ventilation fan and mix (cool) steam with air from the lower air layers as desired/needed. With the device, it is also possible to mix the air layers of the sauna, which creates a feeling of comfort in the sauna, which means that as a result, the temperature difference of the layers is considerably lower, and the temperature difference between the location of the head and the feet is smaller. As desired, the device enables to increase and decrease the efficiency of the device by adjusting the capacity of the ventilation fan, and change the temperature of the steam, or water vapour by adjusting openness of the lower air valve, wherein the vapour is directed to the lower section ofthe sauna.

[0010] In one preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the device provided is portable, and in a second preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the device is integrated, which can be used as technical solutions when building new saunas, as well as in existing saunas.

[0011] Energy necessary to heat the sauna can be saved with the device. The sauna indoor climate adjusting device provided with the invention has an accompanying CO2 sensor, which allows the device to take as much fresh air from the outside as needed to compensate the oxygen used by the people in the room while breathing. Due to the air renewal controlled with the CO2 sensor, a healthy microclimate is also ensured in the sauna, therefore being in the room ofthe sauna is safer.

[0012] The device can also be used to generate a steam sauna effect, where by continuously cooling/mixing/directing down the steam at a higher capacity, it is possible to fill the sauna with warm humid steam.

List of figures [0013] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described by referring to the accompanying figures, whereby the figures represent the following: FIG 1: Scheme of the portable device. FIG 2a: Top view of the sauna with the portable device. FIG 2b: Side view of the sauna with the portable device. FIG 3: General view of the sauna with the portable device. FIG 4: Scheme of the integrated device. FIG 5a: Top view of the sauna with the integrated device. FIG 5b: Side view of the sauna with the integrated device. FIG 6: General view of the sauna with the integrated device.

Detailed description of the invention [0014] Sauna indoor climate adjusting device 1, which is schematically shown in Figures 1 to 6, contains a hot air and steam inlet channel 2, which is vertical and located in the upper section of the device and the sauna, a cooler air and water vapour inlet channel 3, which is horizontal and which is located in the lower section of the device and the sauna. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the hot air and steam inlet channel 2 is horizontal and the cooler air and water vapour inlet channel 3 is vertical. Both inlet channels 2 and 3 contain an adjusting valve (not shown in the figures). Inlet channels 2 and 3 are connected with mixing chamber 4, which, in turn, includes ventilation fan 5 and a mixing valve (not shown in the figures) and is connected to outlet channel 6. Ventilation fan 5 in mixing chamber 4 is controllable with a speed regulator.

[0015] Sauna indoor climate adjusting device 1 has support legs 7, which allow placing the device onto a suitable surface. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, in one embodiment, the device is not permanently fixed to the sauna, which means that the device is portable. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the sauna indoor climate adjusting device 1 is used as a technical solution when building new saunas, whereas in such a case the device is integrated, as shown in Figure 4 to 6, and the device has an additional inlet channel 8 for taking cooler air from outside of the sauna.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, sauna indoor climate adjusting device 1 includes a controller for adjusting the device. In one embodiment of the invention, the speed regulator of the ventilation fan is manually controllable and in another embodiment of the invention automatically controlled. As shown in Figure 4, the automatically controlled device has one or several thermo sensors 9, humidity sensor 10 and/or CO2 sensor 11 connected with the regulator via electronic circuit for the adjustment of the rotations of the controller, which is used to adjust the rotations of ventilation fan 4 and the position of the mixing valve according to the prescribed temperature and parameters in order to achieve the desired comfort and prescribed temperature according to the parameters in the sauna.

[0017] In another alternative embodiment of the invention, the speed regulator has a timer (not shown in the figures), which is used to adjust the temperature of the sauna to the desired temperature for a desired period. Alternatively, ventilation fan 5 has a controller, which switches the ventilation fan on according to the prescribed temperature schedule and adjusts the rotations ofthe ventilation fan/position ofthe valves according to the selected parameters.

[0018] In an alternative embodiment ofthe invention, portable sauna indoor climate adjusting device 1 is equipped with a battery and a direct current motor ventilation fan, which eliminates the need for an electrical connection in the sauna.

[0019] In another alternative embodiment of the invention, the opening of inlet channel 2 is non-vertical and the opening of inlet channel 3 is non-horizontal (not shown in the figures). Additionally, the openings of the inlet channels in the alternative embodiments are funnel shaped, which specifies more clearly the section of the sauna from which the inlet air and steam is pulled into inlet channel 2 or 3. In an alternative embodiment, the invention also has more than 1 of outlet channels 6, so that several outlet channels are linkable parts of a pipe system, which can be used to direct the mix of vapour and air, and distribute it to different sections of the sauna.

[0020] To adjust the sauna indoor climate, hot steam is directed to hot air and steam vapour inlet channel 2, cooler air and water vapour from the lower layers of the sauna are directed into inlet channel 3. Hot air and steam from the upper layers as well as cooler air from the lower layers of air is directed into the mixing chamber 4 where the initial mixing of the air flows takes place. The initially mixed air is pulled from the mixing chamber 4 through the ventilation fan, which is used to perform the final mixing of the air flow, and the cooled mix of water vapour and air is directed into the outlet channel.

[0021] In an alternative use ofthe invention, the cooler air and water vapour inlet channel 3 is closed and adjustable with a valve. In this case, the device can be used to generate circulation of air and water vapour in the sauna. Alternatively, the end of cooler air inlet channel 3 is outside of the sauna and the inlet air is taken outside of the sauna, or the end of the inlet channel is partly outside of the sauna, partly inside and the inlet air is taken partly from the inside and partly from the outside, and adjusted with an distributing valve according to the settings provided in the controller. Air taken outside or outside and inside of the sauna is automatically mixed with an automatic flap valve, which is adjusted with a controller according to the prescribed settings (CO2/temperature difference up-down/humidity percentage).

[0022] The rotating speed of a ventilation fan of sauna indoor climate adjusting device 1 and openness of the adjusting valves of inlet channels 2, 3, 8 are adjusted in a way that an optimal oxygen level would be constantly ensured in the sauna, and according to the indication of the CO2 sensor, an optimal quantity of ambient air would be constantly added into the sauna, which ensures a healthy (optimal) heating mode, and thus, necessary heat energy for heating the sauna is saved. Adjusting in the sauna is as follows: if, according to the sensor, the CO2 concentration exceeds 900 PPM, the adjusting valve of lower cooler air inlet channel 3, which is inside of the sauna, is closed and the adjusting valve of outside cooler air inlet channel 8 is opened at its maximum capacity, which means that all the mixed cooler air is taken from outside of the sauna. The aim is to keep the CO2 content in the sauna lower than 900 PPM and/or in the range of 800 to 900 PPM. If the CO2 content is lower than 900 PPM and/or in the range of 800 to 900 PPM, only internal air circulation is operational and there is no need to take additional fresh air outside of the sauna, which means that ventilation is switched off, i.e., the adjusting valve of cooler air inlet channel 8 is closed and the adjusting valve of cooler air inlet channel 3, which is inside of the sauna, is open. Such a mode saves energy, because the sauna requires a smaller heating effort. If the CO2 concentration exceeds 900 PPM, additional fresh air will be taken outside of the sauna until a normal healthy CO2 concentration is recovered, which is lower than 900 PPM and/or in the range of 800 to 900 PPM.

[0023] In addition to breathing, a lack of oxygen in the sauna is also caused by the conversion process where a portion of the oxygen is burned while air comes into contact with scorching metal surfaces, e.g. electrical heating elements, furnace surfaces of the heater, etc. The integrated version of the sauna indoor climate adjusting device, in which cooler air is taken from outside of the sauna, ensures a safer and healthier time spent in the sauna, as the process is controlled with a CO2 sensor and a safe oxygen level is guaranteed with an inflow of fresh air.

[0024] The sauna indoor climate adjusting device 1 can be used to generate a steam sauna (so-called Turkish sauna) effect in the sauna, by combining the rotations of the ventilation fan and openness of inlet channel 3, i.e., the cooler air valve. As a result, it is possible to collect the majority of the steam from the upper layers of the sauna, and cool it with the air from lower layers. This process can be performed manually as well as automatically.

[0025] Depending on the character and size of the sauna, heater type and positioning, height of the platform and preferences of the sauna user, it is possible to combine an optimally comfortable sauna mode with the sauna indoor climate adjusting device, by adjusting the rotations of the ventilator fan and positioning of the lower inlet channel 3, i.e., cooler air, valve accordingly.

[0026] According to the different sizes of saunas, sauna indoor climate adjusting device 1 includes ventilation fans of different capacities and air channels of different diameters.

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description • KR20100106076 [0003] • F1102514 [00041 • FI90820 [00051 • EP0121500A2 [00061

Claims

1. Transportabelt eller integreret indretning (1) til justering af indeklimaet i en sauna bestående af et blandekammer (4), en varmluft- og dampindløbskanal (2), der er placeret i en øvre sektion af indretningen og en sauna, til varm luft og damp fra saunaens øvre del, en ventilationsvifte (5) i blandekammeret (4), en udløbskanal (6) til udledning af den blandede luft og damp fra blandekammeret (4), kendetegnet ved at indretningen omfatter en køleluft- og vanddampindløbskanal (3), som er placeret i en nedre del af indretningen og saunaen og forbundet med blandekammeret (4), til køleluft og vanddamp fra saunaens nedre del.A portable or integrated device (1) for adjusting the indoor climate in a sauna consisting of a mixing chamber (4), a hot air and steam inlet duct (2) located in an upper section of the device and a sauna, for hot air and steam from the upper part of the sauna, a ventilation fan (5) in the mixing chamber (4), an outlet duct (6) for discharging the mixed air and steam from the mixing chamber (4), characterized in that the device comprises a cooling air and water vapor inlet duct (3), which is located in a lower part of the device and the sauna and connected to the mixing chamber (4), for cooling air and water vapor from the lower part of the sauna.

2. Indretning (1) til justering af indeklimaet i en sauna ifølge krav 1, kendetegnet ved at udløbskanalen (6) omfatter en blandeventil, og/eller udløbskanalens åbning er tragtformet.Device (1) for adjusting the indoor climate in a sauna according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet duct (6) comprises a mixing valve and / or the outlet duct opening is funnel-shaped.

3. Indretning (1) til justering af indeklimaet i en sauna ifølge krav 1, kendetegnet ved at varmluft- og dampindløbskanalen (2) er lodret, og køleluft- og vanddampindløbskanalen (3) er vandret og/eller lodret.Device (1) for adjusting the indoor climate in a sauna according to claim 1, characterized in that the hot air and steam inlet duct (2) are vertical and the cooling air and water vapor inlet duct (3) is horizontal and / or vertical.

4. Indretning (1) til justering af indeklimaet i en sauna ifølge krav 1 og 3, kendetegnet ved at indretningen (1) har en ekstra indløbskanal (8) til at hente køleluft uden for saunaen.Device (1) for adjusting the indoor climate in a sauna according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the device (1) has an additional inlet duct (8) for extracting cooling air outside the sauna.

5. Indretning (1) til justering af indeklimaet i en sauna ifølge krav 1, kendetegnet ved at indretningen (1) omfatter støtteben (7).Device (1) for adjusting the indoor climate in a sauna according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (1) comprises support legs (7).

6. Indretning (1) til justering af indeklimaet i en sauna ifølge krav 1, kendetegnet ved at ventilationsviften (5) omfatter en hastighedsregulator.Device (1) for adjusting the indoor climate in a sauna according to claim 1, characterized in that the ventilation fan (5) comprises a speed controller.

7. Indretning (1) til justering af indeklimaet i en sauna ifølge krav 1 og 6, kendetegnet ved at ventilationsviftens hastighedsregulator (5) er manuelt eller automatisk regulerbar.Device (1) for adjusting the indoor climate in a sauna according to claims 1 and 6, characterized in that the ventilation fan speed controller (5) is manually or automatically adjustable.

8. Indretning (1) til justering af indeklimaet i en sauna ifølge krav 1 til 7, kendetegnet ved at indretningen (1) omfatter én eller flere termosensorer (9), fugtighedssensorer (10) og/eller CO2-sensorer (11).Device (1) for adjusting the indoor climate in a sauna according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the device (1) comprises one or more thermosensors (9), humidity sensors (10) and / or CO2 sensors (11).

9. Indretning (1) til justering af indeklimaet i en sauna ifølge krav 1,6, 7 og 8, kendetegnet ved indretningen (1) omfatter en regulator, der er forbundet med én eller flere termosensorer (9), fugtighedssensorer (10) og/eller CO2-sensorer (11), til regulering af ventilationsviften (5) og blandeventilen.Device (1) for adjusting the indoor climate in a sauna according to claims 1,6, 7 and 8, characterized by the device (1) comprises a controller connected to one or more thermosensors (9), humidity sensors (10) and / or CO2 sensors (11), for regulating the ventilation fan (5) and the mixing valve.

10. Indretning (1) til justering af indeklimaet i en sauna ifølge krav 1 og 6 til 9, kendetegnet ved at ventilationsviftens (5) hastighedsregulator er tidsstyret.Device (1) for adjusting the indoor climate in a sauna according to claims 1 and 6 to 9, characterized in that the speed control of the ventilation fan (5) is time controlled.

11. Indretning (1) til justering af indeklimaet i en sauna ifølge krav 1,3 og 4, kendetegnet ved at køleluft- og vanddampindløbskanalen (2) og/eller varmluft- og dampindløbskanalen (3) har en justeringsventil, og/eller indløbskanalens åbning er tragtformet.Device (1) for adjusting the indoor climate in a sauna according to claims 1,3 and 4, characterized in that the cooling air and water vapor inlet duct (2) and / or hot air and steam inlet duct (3) have an adjustment valve, and / or the inlet duct opening is funnel-shaped.

12. Fremgangsmåde til justering af indeklimaet i en sauna ved hjælp af indretningen ifølge krav 1 til 11, hvor varm luft og damp ledes til et blandekammer (4) via varmluft-og dampindløbskanalen (2), og luftstrømmen ledes fra blandekammeret (4) til udløbskanalen (6), kendetegnet ved at køleluft og vanddamp fra saunaens nedre lag ledes via køleluft- og vanddampindløbskanalen (3) ind i blandekammeret (4), hvor den indledende blanding af luftstrømmene udføres; den indledningsvist blandede luftstrøm ledes fra blandingskammeret (4) gennem ventilationsviften (5), som anvendes til at udføre den endelige blanding af luftstrømmen, og blandingen af blandet damp og luft ledes ind i udløbskanalen (6) og tilbage til saunaen.A method for adjusting the indoor climate in a sauna by the device according to claims 1 to 11, wherein hot air and steam are conducted to a mixing chamber (4) via the hot air and steam inlet duct (2) and the air flow is conducted from the mixing chamber (4) to the outlet duct (6), characterized in that cooling air and water vapor from the lower layers of the sauna are fed via the cooling air and water vapor inlet duct (3) into the mixing chamber (4), where the initial mixing of the air streams is carried out; the initially mixed air stream is conducted from the mixing chamber (4) through the ventilation fan (5) used to effect the final mixing of the air flow, and the mixed steam and air mixture is fed into the outlet duct (6) and back to the sauna.

13. Fremgangsmåde til justering af indeklimaet i en sauna ifølge krav 12, kendetegnet ved at ventilationsviftens (5) rotationshastighed og graden af åbenhed af justeringsventilerne i indløbskanalerne (2) og (3) i indretningen til justering af indeklimaet i en sauna justeres på en sådan en måde, at der samles mere damp og varm luft fra saunaens øvre lag, end der samles vanddams og køleluft fra saunaens nedre lag, og damp, varm luft, vanddamp og køleluft blandes og ledes ind i udløbskanalen (6).Method for adjusting the indoor climate in a sauna according to claim 12, characterized in that the rotational speed of the ventilation fan (5) and the degree of openness of the adjusting valves in the inlet ducts (2) and (3) of the device for adjusting the indoor climate in a sauna are adjusted accordingly. a way that more steam and hot air are collected from the upper layers of the sauna than water vapor and cooling air are collected from the lower layers of the sauna, and steam, hot air, water vapor and cooling air are mixed and fed into the outlet duct (6).

14. Fremgangsmåde til justering af indeklimaet i en sauna ifølge krav 12 og 13, kendetegnet ved at ventilationsviftens (5) rotationshastighed og graden af åbenhed af justeringsventilerne i indløbskanalerne (2, 3 og 8) i indretningen til justering af indeklimaet i en sauna (1) justeres på en sådan måde, at CO2-koncentration er lavere end 900 PPM og/eller i området 800 til 900 PPM, hvor hvis CO2-koncentrationen er højere end 900 PPM, er indløbskanalens (3) justeringsventil inde i saunaen lukket, og åbnes ved sin maksimale kapacitet, og al den køleluft, der skal blandes, hentes uden for saunaen; hvis CO2-koncentrationen er lavere end 900 PPM og/eller i området 800 til 900 PPM, den udvendige køleluftindløbskanals (8) justeringsventil, og indløbskanalens (3) justeringsventil inde i saunaen åbnes, og kun den interne luft cirkuleres, og der hentes ingen yderligere frisk luft uden for saunaen.Method for adjusting the indoor climate in a sauna according to claims 12 and 13, characterized in that the rotational speed of the ventilation fan (5) and the degree of openness of the adjustment valves in the inlet ducts (2, 3 and 8) of the device for adjusting the indoor climate in a sauna (1) ) is adjusted in such a way that CO2 concentration is lower than 900 PPM and / or in the range 800 to 900 PPM, where if the CO2 concentration is higher than 900 PPM, the inlet channel (3) adjustment valve inside the sauna is closed and opened at its maximum capacity and all the cooling air to be mixed is extracted outside the sauna; if the CO2 concentration is less than 900 PPM and / or in the range 800 to 900 PPM, the external cooling air inlet duct (8) adjustment valve and the inlet duct (3) inside the sauna are opened and only the internal air is circulated and no further is collected fresh air outside the sauna.