Method and device for humidifying air with water vapor

Abstract

A device for humidifying air with water vapor is provided, in which water is brought to boil by means of electrical current and evaporates. Minerals or dry residue contained in the water ( 4 ), in particular, lime, become separated, and fresh water containing minerals and dry residue is also refilled approximately according to the amount of evaporated water. The minerals or dry residue, in particular, lime, are removed from the container ( 2 ) that holds the water ( 4 ) to be evaporated immediately after its formation or during the evaporation. For this purpose, the water from the container ( 2 ) is circulated in a closed external circuit, for example, with a small pump ( 9 ). The circuit has a line ( 6 ), the filter ( 7 ), and a return line ( 8 ), as well as a mixing container ( 11 ), in which the fresh water enters via a line ( 12 ), so that it is led together with the cleaned water via a common line ( 13 ) back into the container ( 2 ). In this circuit, the water is filtered mechanically and the separated lime collects outside of the container ( 2 ), so that the container does not have to or rarely needs to be cleaned. The separator or filter ( 7 ) can be flushed continuously or at time intervals.

1 . Method for humidifying air with water vapor, the method including:
 boiling and evaporating water ( 4 ) using an electric current in a heated container ( 2 ), and separating minerals or dry residue contained in the water ( 4 ),   refilling fresh water containing additional minerals or dry residue into the heated container approximately according to an amount of evaporated water,   during the evaporation, diverting a portion from the water ( 4 ) to be boiled and evaporated, and cleaning and/or filtering the portion that is diverted through separation of minerals or dry residue,   feeding back the portion of the cleaned and/or filtered water to the water ( 4 ) to be boiled and evaporated in the heated container ( 2 ), by guiding the portion of the cleaned and/or filtered water into a collection or mixing container ( 11 ), into which the fresh water for refilling is filled, and   mixing the portion of the cleaned and/or filtered water and the fresh water for refilling in the collection or mixing container ( 11 ) prior to introduction into the heated container ( 2 ).   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the water diverted from the boiling water ( 4 ) is fed by gravity and/or by a conveying device or pump ( 9 ) to a separator or filter ( 7 ). 
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein the diverted water is led from a branch ( 15 ) at a greater height to a separator or filter ( 7 ) located higher than the branch and is fed back into the heated container ( 2 ) by gravity, after the cleaning and/or filtering. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the water to be cleaned and/or filtered is diverted from the boiling water ( 4 ) at a distance to a position at which the fresh water for refilling and the cleaned and/or filtered water are introduced into the container ( 2 ). 
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaned and/or filtered water and the fresh water are filled from below into the container ( 2 ) and the water to be cleaned and/or filtered is diverted at a distance above a water inlet. 
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the separator or filter ( 7 ) cleaning the diverted water is flushed or cleaned continuously or at time intervals, and separately supplied flushing water is forced against a direction of flow of the water to be cleaned through the separator or filter ( 7 ) and is discharged through a separate outlet ( 27 ) or wherein the flushing fluid is guided in a direction of the water to be cleaned and/or filtered into the separator or filter ( 7 ) and the minerals or dry residue collected therein is washed over the top or side edge of the separator or filter ( 7 ). 
     
     
         7 . Device ( 1 ) for humidifying air with water vapor, comprising:
 an electrically heatable container ( 2 ) for storing water ( 4 ), in which the water is brought to a boil and evaporates, the container ( 2 ) has a water inlet for refilling water ( 4 ) according to an amount of evaporated water, wherein on the container ( 2 ) at least one external circuit is provided with at least one line ( 6 ), which leads to a separator or filter ( 7 ) arranged outside of the container ( 2 ), from which a return line ( 8 ) leads back into the container ( 2 ), and wherein a downwards slope or a conveying device is provided in the at least one line ( 6 ) between the container ( 2 ) and the separator or filter ( 7 ), wherein between the separator or filter ( 7 ) or a container ( 10 ) housing the separator or filter ( 7 ) and the heatable container ( 2 ) there is a collection container or mixing container ( 11 ), into which open, on one side, the return line ( 8 ) for cleaned and/or filtered water and, on the other side, a supply line ( 12 ) for the water for refilling, and that a common line ( 13 ) leads from the collection container ( 11 ) to the water inlet ( 14 ) of the heatable container ( 2 ).   
     
     
         8 . Device according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one pump ( 9 ) is provided in the at least one line ( 6 ) between the container ( 2 ) and the separator or filter ( 7 ) as a conveying device. 
     
     
         9 . Device according to  claim 8 , wherein electrodes ( 16 ) are located in the container ( 2 ) to be immersed in the water ( 4 ) to be heated and evaporated, and a measurement device ( 17 ) is provided for determining a power consumption of the electrodes ( 16 ), which controls an amount of diverted water and the water to be cleaned and/or filtered for increasing conductivity of the water ( 4 ) through discontinuous or continuous diversion of a variable amount of water. 
     
     
         10 . Device according to  claim 9 , wherein the inlet into the branch line ( 6 ) is arranged within the container ( 2 ) underneath the electrodes ( 16 ) and above the supply for the water for refilling and has a protective filter ( 21 ) at an inlet or in front of the inlet thereof. 
     
     
         11 . Device according to  claim 7 , further comprising a heating rod, a resistance heater ( 26 ), or a heating coil located in the container ( 2 ) so as to be immersed in the water ( 4 ) to be evaporated, the container ( 2 ) has a level regulator ( 22 ) for determining a fill height using sensors ( 23 ). 
     
     
         12 . Device according to  claim 7 , wherein the common line ( 13 ) opens from the mixing container ( 11 ) to the container ( 2 ) which holds the water ( 4 ) to be evaporated in a top region thereof or at a top side of the container ( 2 ) and has or forms a siphon ( 24 ). 
     
     
         13 . Device according to  claim 7 , wherein the branch ( 15 ) and an outlet from the heatable container ( 2 ) are arranged at approximately the same height spaced apart from each other and directed towards different sides.