Ventilation device

Abstract

A ventilation device comprises a shaft with a side wall, including a first end with an air intake, a side opening in the side wall, and a second end with an air outtake and a drain opening. The side opening and the drain opening are arranged such that liquid entering the shaft through the side opening flows out of the shaft through the drain opening. The side opening is arranged in the side wall such that air entering the shaft through the air intake flows along the side opening and leaves the shaft through the air outtake. Additional embodiments referring to an apparatus with a drain, a functional facility, and a method for operating a ventilation device are disclosed.

1 . A ventilation device, comprising:
 a shaft with a side wall, the shaft including a first end with an air intake, a side opening in the side wall, and a second end with an air outtake and a drain opening,   wherein the side opening and the drain opening are arranged such that liquid entering the shaft through the side opening flows out of the shaft through the drain opening, and   wherein the side opening is arranged in the side wall such that air entering the shaft through the air intake flows along the side opening and leaves the shaft through the air outtake.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilation device of  claim 1 , wherein the air flowing along the side opening forms an air curtain at the side opening. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilation device of  claim 1 , wherein the air flows substantially perpendicular to an orientation of the side opening, and wherein after passing the side opening, the air flows substantially in a flow direction of the liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The ventilation device of  claim 1 , wherein a supply portion of the shaft including the first end, the side opening, and the drain opening forms a substantially straight section of the shaft, and
 wherein an exhaust portion of the shaft including the air outtake is arranged at an angle to the supply portion in a substantially U- or V-shaped manner.   
     
     
         5 . The ventilation device of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall at the side opening includes one or more sloping sections that are configured to guide the liquid entering the shaft through the side opening towards the drain opening. 
     
     
         6 . The ventilation device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the side opening is connectable to a drain of an apparatus;   the drain opening is connectable to a siphon, or the air outtake is connectable to an air exhaust system.   
     
     
         7 . The ventilation device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more of:
 a fan or blower configured to blow air into the shaft through the air intake;   a motion detector, wherein the motion detector is configured to operate the fan or blower;   a sensor at the side opening, wherein the sensor is configured to operate the fan or blower; and/or   one or more air sensors configured to monitor parameters of the air leaving the shaft.   
     
     
         8 . The ventilation device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more liquid sensors configured to monitor parameters of the liquid flowing out of the shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The ventilation device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one treatment apparatus configured to treat the air leaving the shaft, wherein the at least one treatment apparatus includes at least one radiation source. 
     
     
         10 . The ventilation device of  claim 1 , further comprising an exhaust air shaft connected to the air outtake. 
     
     
         11 . The ventilation device of  claim 10 , wherein the exhaust air shaft has a meandering shape. 
     
     
         12 . The ventilation device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the side wall of the shaft includes a material with a scale-like surface structure. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus with a drain, comprising a ventilation device connected to the drain, the ventilation device including:
 a shaft with a side wall, the shaft including a first end with an air intake, a side opening in the side wall connected to the drain of the apparatus, and a second end with an air outtake and a drain opening,   wherein the side opening and the drain opening are arranged such that liquid entering the shaft through the side opening flows out of the shaft through the drain opening, and   wherein the side opening is arranged in the side wall such that air entering the shaft through the air intake flows along the side opening and leaves the shaft through the air outtake.   
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method for operating a ventilation device with a shaft with a side wall, the shaft including a first end with an air intake, a side opening in the side wall, and a second end with an air outtake and a drain opening, the method comprising:
 guiding liquid entering the shaft through the side opening out of the shaft through the drain opening; and   blowing air through the air intake into the shaft and along the side opening and towards the air outtake.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the air flowing along the side opening forms an air curtain at the side opening. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the air flows substantially perpendicular to an orientation of the side opening, and wherein after passing the side opening, the air flows substantially in a flow direction of the liquid. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein a supply portion of the shaft including the first end, the side opening, and the drain opening forms a substantially straight section of the shaft, and
 wherein an exhaust portion of the shaft including the air outtake is arranged at an angle to the supply portion in a substantially U- or V-shaped manner.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the side wall at the side opening includes one or more sloping sections that are configured to guide the liquid entering the shaft through the side opening towards the drain opening. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more of:
 a fan or blower configured to blow air into the shaft through the air intake;   a motion detector, wherein the motion detector is configured to operate the fan or blower;   a sensor at the side opening, wherein the sensor is configured to operate the fan or blower; and/or   one or more air sensors configured to monitor parameters of the air leaving the shaft.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more liquid sensors configured to monitor parameters of the liquid flowing out of the shaft.