How does a humidifier work: device, principle of operation and types of devices

DROP humidifier: miniature ultrasonic devices

Models of the Crane brand contribute to the formation of a healthy living environment for people in enclosed spaces. The devices work on the principle of stationary ultrasonic humidifiers: the water does not heat up, being converted into steam. In such devices, a membrane plate is installed, which, using ultrasound, turns the liquid into a cold mist.

Advantages:

• economical power consumption: 2.5 W;
• the presence of automatic shutdown when the liquid completely evaporates;
• antibacterial coating that prevents the growth of bacteria in the tank;
• the ability to connect via USB;
• the presence of a fixed connection;
• Installation of a filtration system.

When You Need a Humidifier

There are regions where high humidity is normal and humidifier for creating a microclimate is not necessary to purchase. If a person happened to live in another area, and he enjoys all the benefits of civilization, then from the beginning of the heating season he understands why a humidifier is needed in an apartment.

In some cases, the question of whether a humidifier is needed at home should not even arise:

• A humidifier in the apartment is necessary for people with diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Those suffering from chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, will feel much better when an air humidifier appears in the house. Skin diseases in children and adults, allergies will recede in a more humid environment.
• When a small child appeared in the house. The process of adaptation to new living conditions will be much easier for a newborn if the air is not too dry.
• With normal humidity, it is easier for parents to defeat dust. The cleanliness of the baby will be provided.
• If any collections, paintings or other works of art are stored in the house, then normal humidity will significantly prolong their life.
• A large library, especially if it is placed on open shelves, will leave no choice. And tell you what you need. Humidity must be kept constant.
• Musical instruments, especially wooden ones, suffer greatly from dryness.
• Everything that is dear to you and those who are dear to you will feel much better when you understand why humidifiers are needed. After all, all pets and plants do not tolerate drought well.
• Think about yourself.A comfortable living environment will significantly improve the quality of life, make you healthier and more attractive. So a humidifier for you, your loved ones and your home is absolutely necessary.

Those who do not have a humidifier try to create a comfortable microclimate in other ways.

3 Additional features

In addition to humidifying the air, the device can perform other functions. Manufacturers offer units that are equipped with some devices:

• evaporation rate regulator;
• work timer;
• hygrostat;
• water ionization;
• remote control;
• aroma function.

Evaporation must be adjusted manually using mechanical or touch buttons. But some models have an automatic switch that operates according to pre-entered values. The timer allows you to set the time for switching on and off the humidifier. You can use the equipment before going to bed, and after a few hours it will finish its work.

The built-in hygrostat will help maintain the same level of humidity in the room. The owner sets the appropriate parameters, and the device itself controls their compliance. If they are exceeded, the device will automatically turn off. If a humidifier without a hygrostat has already been purchased, then it is replaced with a separate weather station. It shows the level of air saturation with water, allowing you to control it.

If the kit includes a remote control, then you can turn on the humidifier without getting out of bed. Some devices have the function of aromatization of the air. In their design there are special capsules for aromatic oils.With each evaporation of water, the room is saturated with the chosen smell, which has a positive effect on the psychological state of the residents.

The cheapest ultrasonic devices are offered to be purchased for 700-4000 rubles, the average price category includes steam systems - up to 8 thousand, and traditional designs are among the most expensive. Their cost can exceed 9 thousand rubles. Humidifiers can not only saturate the atmosphere with water molecules, but also clean the air and furniture from dust.

Dry, bad, evil

Every autumn, millions of Russian apartments turn into a kind of desert: it becomes hot and dry in them.

Saving people from the cold, batteries and radiators adversely affect the condition of their skin, hair, and make them more susceptible to respiratory diseases and viruses.

“Our skin is already tortured with scrubs, shower gels, washcloths,” says dermatologist and dermatocosmetologist Zoya Konstantinova. - We try to wash ourselves better, washing off the natural lipid film, the skin is dehydrated from this. And dry air in the apartment and frost on the street exacerbate the situation. The skin dries, becomes covered with cracks, then they begin to itch, bleed. A person constantly feels tightness of the skin, his eyes itch. Hair also suffers from dehydration, a sure sign of this is electrification when you take off your hat, and your hair rises up like a ball. As a result, due to dry air, the skin ages faster, the hair breaks, splits, and becomes dull.

Dry air in the room affects not only the appearance. Infections spread faster in it, the protective barriers of the body are destroyed.

“The mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, which protect the body from infections and bacteria and moisturize the inhaled air, dry up, the risk of getting sick increases,” explains infectious disease doctor Ilya Akinfeev. - In rooms with dry air, young children are more likely to get sick, because they lose moisture faster. Because of the overdried mucous membrane in the nose, nosebleeds occur. Therefore, the air in the home must be humidified.

But even a century ago, not dry, but humid air was considered unfavorable: it was he, in combination with cold, that was detrimental to patients with consumption. Why is it useful now? Ilya Akinfeev clarifies that excessive humidity, above 55%, is really no less harmful than dry air.

“With high humidity, the number of bacteria in the air rises, there is a risk of mold development, therefore it is also impossible to moisten thoughtlessly and too much, to make a room look like a Turkish bath,” says the infectious disease specialist. - It is necessary that the level of 45-50% be in the bedroom and children, it can be maintained with the help of technology, it is better to choose devices on which you can adjust these values

At the same time, it is important to regularly ventilate the room, especially if someone is sick in the house - ventilation reduces the concentration of viruses in the air.

The principle of operation of an ultrasonic humidifier and its device

This type of household humidifiers appeared on the market relatively recently, where mechanical and steam-type devices previously dominated.The attractiveness of ultrasonic devices lies in the principle of operation, which makes it possible to efficiently produce the so-called cold steam without using water heating and consuming a minimum of electricity. To understand how the device works, you should look at the diagram of the internal structure of the ultrasonic humidifier:

As you can see, the device device is quite simple and understandable so much that, if desired, such a humidifier can be made by hand. The operation algorithm of the ultrasonic humidifier is built in the following sequence:

1. The most purified and demineralized water is poured into the container, preferably distilled.
2. The liquid flows by gravity through the cartridge, where additional cleaning and softening takes place.
3. After a slight heating, the water enters the evaporation chamber. There, the membrane, oscillating at a frequency of more than 20 kilohertz (like ultrasound), causes the smallest particles of water to come off the surface, turning them into a “cold vapor”, resembling a thick fog.
4. A low-speed fan installed under the chamber causes this steam to rise towards the rotating nozzles of the atomizer. The unit works almost silently, because it has low productivity.
5. On the way, suspended particles undergo bactericidal treatment by transillumination with an ultraviolet lamp. This prevents the entry of microorganisms contained in the source water into the air of the room.

You can buy more advanced models of ultrasonic humidifiers with a built-in hygrometer to measure the humidity in the room. Devices with a price above average are equipped with an air ionizer, an LCD display and a remote control from a separate remote control.There are also entire climatic complexes that allow for several air treatment operations. They include:

• water filter;
• filter - air purifier;
• air humidifier ultrasonic;
• ionization block;
• bactericidal filter.

Climatic complexes and conventional air humidifiers are equipped with safety automatics that turn off the power in case of overturning and a critical drop in the water level. Instances with a hygrometer also turn off when the set level of air humidity in the room is reached.

What are the types of humidifiers for an apartment?

Typically, humidifiers are installed in those rooms where there are air conditioners that do not have an additional function of air humidification or they are poorly ventilated. And also they are installed in the winter, when the heating is on, then the dryness of the air increases.

According to the principle of operation and the method of humidification, these devices are divided into several types.

The principle of operation, as well as the method of humidification, are different for all devices. This divides them into three main types. But all these species perform one main function - to humidify the air.

What are humidifiers?

• Traditional;
• Steam;
• Ultrasonic.

Household traditional humidifier - a container of water, where there is an evaporator and a fan. This type is completely safe, not expensive, increases humidity by 60% and no more. It can be filled with both distilled water and tap water. You can add aromatic oils to the water, then it will also be a flavor. The steam appliance increases the humidity in the room with the help of steam, which is formed when water is heated. It can humidify the air up to almost 100%.To avoid waterlogging of the air, you need to purchase an additional hydrostat, which will solve this problem. It can be used for treatment as an inhaler. The safe ultrasonic humidifier operates very quietly. Evaporation of water can be achieved by sonicating the water. This unit can also be used as an air purifier. To do this, you just need to purchase a cleaner-cartridge. This device also has the highest price.

The principle of operation of ultrasonic type humidifiers

Unlike the humidifiers discussed above, this type of apparatus uses a rather curious principle of operation. The liquid from the reservoir enters a special plate, which begins to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency. The vibrations break the water into tiny droplets, forming something like mist or steam. As a result, a cloud is formed, which is blown out of the device using a fan located inside. In other words, during operation, the ultrasonic humidifier creates fog.

Working principle of ultrasonic humidifier

On the face of it, it may seem that the water dust that occurs due to the frequency of vibrations of the disk is hot. In fact, water particles crushed with ultrasound are cold and do not pose a danger to either children or adults, they can be safely touched.

The disadvantage of this type of humidifier is the lack of purification of the released moisture. That is, the water pollen that is released into the space of the room does not undergo any filtration. In addition, it is recommended to use only distilled water in ultrasonic humidifiers.

The advantage of this machine is its safe operation and rather simple device, as well as a reliable and proven method of operation.

Features of the functioning of the ultrasonic humidifier

Despite the fact that ultrasonic humidifiers were created quite recently, they quickly gained popularity among the population. They stand out among other humidifiers with their small size and rather original design.

Evaporation in the device occurs due to the ultrasonic vibrations of the membrane present in the device, due to the pressure created by it, steam is formed from the water. This steam is identical to cold water in its temperature indicators, therefore this type of evaporation has another name - “cold steam”.

How does an ultrasonic humidifier work? The principle of operation of an ultrasonic air humidifier is as follows: water from a container enters a membrane vibrating under the influence of ultrasound, where it is broken into small particles (drops). The flow of air masses created by the fan built into the device delivers the formed water particles to the room, where they are already being converted into a state of steam. The steam released is quite similar to fog.

Since the human ear does not perceive such high frequencies, it seems that the device does not create any noise during operation. The only thing you can occasionally hear is the noise from the running fan.

In addition, the principle of operation of an ultrasonic humidifier includes the fact that after entering moist air into the room, it spreads over the entire area of ​​​​the room with the help of a sprayer.The latter is assembled so that the aerosol supply in the room is carried out as far as possible.

Because in functions of this type of humidifier air does not include water purification from various pollutants, then all the polluting particles present in it can remain on the furniture in the form of a white coating. To avoid this and not render the filters in the device unusable, it is recommended to fill it with purified water.

An ultrasonic humidifier is a device capable of raising the humidity level of air masses to 90% in a short period of time.

This type of humidifier is a device that can raise the humidity level of the air masses in the room up to 90% in a short period of time, and without making any noise. Most of these devices are equipped with a hygrometer, which controls the level of humidity of the air masses, and when this figure reaches 50–60%, the device automatically turns off.

The performance of the devices ranges from seven to twelve liters per day, with a power consumption of forty to fifty watts.

Criteria and parameters

Select a suitable model of the device according to some criteria. The cost of the device depends on them. When buying, you need to consider the following parameters:

• the size of the area to be moistened;
• construction power;
• the volume of the water tank;
• control mode.

The type of humidification affects the power. The most productive are steam appliances, but they consume a significant amount of electricity. It is advantageous to use ultrasonic units, their power reaches 140 watts. Although the indicator is small, but the performance remains high.Traditional equipment has the lowest power, but it needs a little water and electricity to operate. In this case, the air receives enough moisture.

The duration of the device and its dimensions depend on the volume of the water tank. For a room with an area of ​​​​less than 20 square meters, a device with a 0.2-2.5 l water bowl is suitable, from 20 to 40 m - 2.5-5 l, over 40 meters squared - more than 5 l. In this case, the flow rate of the liquid is different, usually the evaporator takes about 200–300 mg per hour of operation.

Modern models have displays that display the temperature and flow of water, its amount in the tank. The owners of the premises can choose a unit with mechanical buttons, touch or electronic control, LCD screen.

Steam humidifier

In the conditions of polluted air in a large metropolis, for example, Moscow, when windows remain closed in summer to prevent smoke from entering the apartment space, this device may be the best solution to the problem of insufficient humidity.

Working principle of hot evaporation humidifier

During the boiling process, the water begins to evaporate. When the liquid boils away completely, a special relay is activated and the device turns off. A feature of this type of device is a higher degree of security requirements. For example, you can turn on the device only if it is assembled and the electrodes are hidden inside the case to avoid accidental contact. Enhanced fire safety measures make steam humidifiers as reliable as conventional electric kettles with automatic switch-off.

The steam oxygen humidifier is equipped with a hygrostat (a special sensor for measuring air humidity). This device switches off the device after the set humidity in the room is reached. If this sensor is faulty, the humidity level in the room can significantly exceed the comfort zone. Steam humidifiers are also equipped with inhalers. These are special attachments that allow you to use the device in clinics (or at home for therapeutic purposes).

Steam humidifier with hygrostat

Power

Productivity from 6 to 17 liters of liquid per day, depending on the cost of the model. The power of this type of apparatus is higher than its predecessors, about 200-800W, but the power consumption is correspondingly higher.

Pros and cons

The advantage is faster humidification of the room by increasing the power and intensity of work. The key disadvantage is hot steam. This means that the device is not safe, and you need to carefully consider the place of its installation.

How to add oil to a humidifier?

Aromatic oils can not be added to all humidifiers. Do not pour oil directly into the spray tank under any circumstances. The device must support the function of aromatherapy and have a special compartment into which essential oils are added and specific formulations are poured.

These devices include:

• steam humidifiers;
• ultrasonic models;
• washing devices.

Their design has a special cassette or container. It is there that oil is poured, which during the operation of the humidifier is sprayed in parallel with water. All aromatic oils poured into the spray unit must be of high quality and original.

After each procedure, you need to rinse the device well (including cassettes for aroma oils) so that different oily liquids do not mix with each other

The amount of essential oil used depends on the area of ​​the room. Experts recommend applying no more than 5 drops for every 15 sq.m. area. If these proportions are violated, all the benefits of aromatherapy disappear, headaches, allergic reactions and bouts of nausea may occur.

As for the duration of the procedure, the humidifier air with essential oils should not work like a normal washer. At the first application, it is better to turn off the device after half an hour or an hour of aromatherapy and look at your condition.

In case of dizziness or increased blood pressure, the duration of the session should be reduced.

Proper care

The humidifier care procedure includes several measures, depending on the degree of contamination of the device.

Daily cleaning

Be sure to turn off the device every day and pour out the remaining water, then wash the humidifier with a brush and hot soapy water. This will allow time to clean it from the plaque formed due to the increased hardness of the water. The tank is rinsed with tap water, its subsequent filling should occur only after complete drying. When performing the above actions, care must be taken not to allow the engine and other used working units to be flooded with water.

Deep cleaning

Even with good daily care, deeper cleansing may be needed over time, no matter how often the device is used. Vinegar is used to treat the walls; to reduce the risk of damage to surfaces, you can dilute it with water. The ingrained plaque can be eliminated only in this way. After treatment with vinegar solution, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse the device under running water and leave it to dry completely. The frequency of deep cleaning is once every 2-3 weeks.

Disinfection

Its need arises when you need to clean the device from bacteria. As preparatory measures, the following should be done: open the window and balcony shutters and thoroughly ventilate the room. Next, prepare a solution from half a glass of bleach and 4 liters of water. Pour water into the tank and press "on". After a while, steam will begin to be released, at this moment we turn off the device and wait 3-5 minutes, after which we release the container from water. We rinse the container with fresh water, and refill it, turn on the device for 5-7 minutes.

The number of repeated cycles depends on how soon the smell of bleach disappears. If the instructions indicate that it is undesirable to use bleach as a disinfectant, then hydrogen peroxide is poured instead.

hot steam

If the water is heated, then evaporation will occur more intensively. This is how a steam humidifier works. At the bottom of the device is an insulated chamber with a heating element. It is in it that the water is heated, after which the steam rises up and spreads throughout the room.

Devices that humidify with hot steam are quite inexpensive, and this has gained popularity. The degree of air humidification can be controlled if the device is equipped with a hygrostat.

The disadvantages include high power consumption and the inability to accurately control humidity. In addition, the humidifier heats the air in the room, which is not always good.

Are humidifiers harmful?

Critics of the devices insist on the following negative consequences:

High probability of getting a sore throat due to high humidity in the room. The occurrence of the situation is possible only with a prolonged increase in humidity in the premises with an indicator of more than 80%. High-quality devices have a humidity control function that monitors indicators and keeps them at the level of 45-60%.
Injury to children due to careless handling of the device. Children can be burned by steam appliances as hot steam comes out. Such devices must be placed out of the reach of children. Devices with a different principle of operation are safe for children and adults.
Inefficient. There is an opinion that the optimal level is created only near a working device.

In order for humidification to be throughout the apartment during the purchase of the device, pay attention to the power and performance.

For long-term operation of the device and the creation of an optimal microclimate, timely replace filters and perform technical inspection of the device.

More about miniature views

A small humidifier is suitable for a room no larger than 15 square meters. meters. In a small children's room, it will perfectly cope with the task of maintaining the desired humidity level of 40-60%. Due to its miniature size, it will be easy to place it.

What else is a humidifier for? We spend almost half of our lives in transport or at the workplace. Many managers carefully monitor the state of indoor air.

If this does not happen, connect your portable humidifier via the USB port or from the car's cigarette lighter. You can use it next to your computer at home or at work. It will provide comfort not only to you, but also to your equipment, which also suffers from excessive dryness.

The device is small in size and has a simple design. At the same time, it successfully copes with the task of moistening in a small area. It is also nice that it is cheaper than traditional versions.

Types of humidifiers

cold model

The simplest model in terms of device. It differs from other types of devices in silent operation.

The principle of operation of the device: the fan captures air and passes through a damp sponge of the evaporator with antibacterial impregnation. Humidified, purified and disinfected air comes out of the device.

They produce models with additional options having a humidity sensor, an antibacterial filter, a hydrostat. With low power consumption.

During the operation of the device, it is necessary to add water in time, rinse the tank from sediment, clean or change the filter.

steam model

The principle of operation is like that of a boiling kettle. Water boils inside the appliance, and the resulting steam escapes into the room. After boiling water, the device turns off automatically. The benefits of such a humidifier are indisputable. During the boiling of water, all microorganisms die, and at the output we get sterile steam, which favorably distinguishes such humidifiers from models working on the cold principle.

Short-term operation is ensured by high power consumption. If necessary, a hydrostat and hygrometer can be installed.

Models are available with reservoirs for essential oils for aromatherapy.

Ultrasonic Model

Such devices are always equipped with a hygrometer and a hydrostat. There are models with a liquid crystal display, the possibility of remote control.

It maintains the optimally set humidity in the room using electronic sensors. Ultrasonic vibrations convert water from liquid to vapor, and a fan throws out a cold mist. Only purified water should be poured into the device, otherwise plaque will appear on the furniture.