DE202020101719U1 - Thermal facility - Google Patents

Abstract

Thermal facility, with a heatable and ventilated thermal cabin (2) for at least one person, the thermal cabin being equipped with adjustable heating means (4) and with adjustable ventilation means (6) and optionally with a temperature sensor (8), characterized in that detection means ( 10) for the continuous detection of the presence of persons in the thermal cabin, who cooperate with a heating control device (12) for the heating means (4) in such a way that, in the absence of presence, a basic heating output and in the presence of a comparatively higher operational heating output is set.

Description

Technical field

The innovation relates to a thermal device according to the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

Thermal facilities such as saunas, steam baths etc. are used extensively today and form a fundamental aspect of today's leisure, hotel and sports infrastructure. The energy expenditure associated with the operation of such facilities is considerable and has an ecological and economic need for optimization. In particular, there is the problem of the occupancy numbers varying over the course of the day. Depending on the type of facility, time of day, day of the week and / or season, some facilities may alternate between periods of vacancy and periods of high occupancy.

The DE 198 46 678 A1 relates to a generic thermal facility. In particular, it describes a commercially usable larger bathing cabin for saunas or steam baths, which is operated over longer operating times with fluctuating occupancy. In order to save heating energy, the air volume throughput is adapted to the occupancy density, this being accomplished by appropriate sensors which utilize the body weight or body contours for switching operations.

Presentation of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide an improved thermal device which, in particular, enables a further reduction in energy expenditure.

This object is achieved by the thermal device defined in claim 1.

The thermal device according to the invention has a heatable and ventilated thermal cabin for at least one person, the thermal cabin being equipped with adjustable heating means and with adjustable ventilation means and optionally with a temperature sensor. Due to the fact that there are detection means for the continuous detection of the presence of persons in the thermal cabin, which cooperate with a heating control device for the heating means in such a way that a basic heating power can be set in the absence of a person and a comparatively higher operational heating power in the presence of a person the energy requirement can be reduced to a surprising extent, especially in the case of fluctuating occupancy.

According to the above approach, the heating means are operated with a basic heating power in the absence of presence and with a comparatively higher operating heating power in the presence of the present invention.

In the present context, “thermal facility” is to be understood as a collective term for any facility in which one or more people spend a certain amount of time in an environment with elevated temperature and possibly humidity. Likewise, the term “thermal cabin” is to be understood quite generally as a defined area of the thermal facility, in which the said temperature and humidity environment is created and maintained. In addition to one or possibly several thermal booths, the thermal facility usually includes other rooms and areas such as the entrance area, cloakroom, sanitary facilities, and relaxation / break area (s).

Accordingly, the present invention is used in particular in connection with hot air baths, saunas, steam baths and infrared cabins in all of its configurations. Accordingly, it goes without saying that the heating output to be used depends largely on the size and type, but also on the construction of the respective thermal facility. In certain cases the device can be operated with a basic heating output of zero, i.e. if there is no presence, there is no heating. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the device according to the invention does not necessarily have to be operated around the clock using the method according to the invention.

In general, it should be noted that the extent to which the heating output is reduced in the absence of absence compared to the operating heating output, and thus also the extent of the energy savings that can be achieved, depends on a number of factors. This includes in particular the size and construction of the thermal cabin, but also the type of thermal cabin and the temperature range that is generally considered acceptable.

Advantageous refinements and embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

In a simple embodiment, the detection means are designed only to determine and report the basic presence of people in the thermal cabin. The only thing that is recorded is whether the spa cabin is unoccupied ("lack of presence") or whether there is at least one person in it. According to an advantageous embodiment (claim 2), the detection means are additionally designed to detect the number of people in the thermal cabin. Based on this additional information, the heating output to be applied can be controlled in a more differentiated manner.

Although the presence-dependent control of the heating means provided for in accordance with the invention allows a considerable reduction in the energy requirement, it is advantageous (claim 3) if the detection means additionally cooperate with a ventilation control device for the ventilation means in such a way that, in the absence of presence, a basic air throughput and in the presence of presence a comparatively higher operational air flow rate is set. Accordingly, the ventilation means are advantageously operated with a basic air throughput in the absence of presence and with a comparatively higher operational air throughput when present.

Devices for detecting the presence or the number of people in a defined room are known in principle and can also be used accordingly in the context of the present invention, provided the sensors used for this are compatible with the temperature and humidity conditions prevailing in the thermal cabin. To increase the reliability, it can be expedient to use several sensors, in particular also several sensor types. According to an advantageous embodiment (claim 4), the detection means comprise at least one infrared sensor and a door contact device.

The thermal device according to the invention can be implemented in a wide variety of configurations, in particular various types of heating means being considered. In one configuration (claim 5), the adjustable heating means are designed as a sauna heater. As is known, this is an oven covered with stones or the like, which to a certain extent acts as a heat store.

In a further embodiment (claim 6), the adjustable heating means are designed as steam generators, as are used in particular in steam baths, Turkish baths, hamams and the like. Furthermore, infrared emitters can also be used as heating means, for example.

Depending on the type, the heating means mentioned are supplied with electricity, gas, oil or geothermal energy (heat pump).

In one embodiment of the method (claim 8), the basic heating power is essentially constant. As already mentioned at the beginning, the basic heating output can be zero (claim 9), in other cases it is kept at a basic value to be determined in advance. Alternatively (claim 10), the basic heating output is regulated in such a way that a predefined basic temperature range is maintained in the thermal cabin. These measures ensure that the temperature in the thermal cabin does not drop too much, even with long periods of vacancy. In the latter case, if a person enters after a long period of vacancy, an undesirable waiting time would have to be accepted until the intended cabin temperature was reached.

In one embodiment (claim 11), the operational heating power, which is used when people are present in the thermal cabin, is essentially constant. In a further embodiment (claim 12), the operational heating output is set according to the number of people present in the thermal cabin. This embodiment does not necessarily presuppose that a different operational heating output is set for each number of people. With larger thermal facilities in particular, it can be useful to set the operational heating output according to a gradual criterion such as "1 to 2 people", "3 to 5 people" and "more than 5 people".

According to another embodiment (claim 13), the operational heating output is regulated in such a way that a predefined effective temperature range is maintained in the thermal cabin. In this case, too, it is basically determined in the manner according to the invention whether a person is present in the thermal cabin or not, and only in the case of presence is the switch to the comparatively higher operational heating output. The latter is now finely regulated with the aid of a temperature sensor provided for this purpose.

Figure list

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Thermaleinrichtung, in perspektivischer Ansicht;
• 2 ein beispielhaftes Betriebsdiagramm bei Anwendung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens, und
• 3 je ein beispielhaftes Betriebsdiagramm bei Anwendung
  1. a) eine Verfahrens nach dem Stand der Technik;
  2. b) des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens im Winterbetrieb;
  3. c) des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens im Sommerbetrieb.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:

• 1 a schematic representation of a thermal device according to the invention, in a perspective view;
• 2nd an exemplary operating diagram when using the method according to the invention, and
• 3rd each an exemplary operating diagram for use
  1. a) a method according to the prior art;
  2. b) the method according to the invention in winter operation;
  3. c) the method according to the invention in summer operation.

Ways of Carrying Out the Invention

The in the 1 thermal facility shown has a heatable and ventilated thermal cabin 2nd on which with adjustable heating means 4th is equipped in the form of a sauna heater. In addition, the thermal facility includes 6 ventilation devices and two temperature sensors 8th . In addition, are as a flat rate 10th Designated detection means for the continuous detection of the presence of people in the thermal cabin available, which with a heating control device 12 for the heating medium 4th work together. With the configuration shown, a basic heating output can be set in the absence of a presence, ie when the thermal cabin is empty, and a comparatively higher operating heating output when present.

In the example shown are the means of registration 10th additionally with a ventilation control device 14 for the ventilation means 6 connected. This means that a basic air flow rate can be set in the absence of a presence and a comparatively higher operational air flow rate in the presence of a presence.

The means of registration 10th In the example shown, comprise two infrared sensors positioned above the entrance area 16 and a door contact device 18th which in connection with the cabin door 20th stands.

How moreover in the 1 shown schematically, the heating control device 12 as a central control unit 22 can be realized, which are in contact with the various sensors and control elements via corresponding lines. This can be both wire connections and wireless connections.

The ventilation means 6 include one with the control unit 22 related fan unit 24th , a supply air line 26 , an exhaust duct 28 and here also an additional night drying line 30th that with controllable flaps 32 are equipped.

The operation of a thermal device according to the invention is in 2nd shown using the example of a sauna. The profile called “temperature” actually consists of three curves, namely the measured values from two temperature sensors and the mean value thereof. The two measurement curves are practically congruent and, accordingly, their mean value.

During the course of the day there was usually one person, at times two people or no one in the sauna room. The operational heating power was provided as pulse operation with 7 kW peak power each; a continuous feed of 1 kW was used as the basic heating output.

In the initial phase until about 10.15 h, the cabin temperature was raised after the night break. From around 1:45 p.m. to around 3:15 p.m., the sauna cabin was empty. In this absence phase, the heating output was reduced considerably, whereas the ventilation rate was not changed. In this example, despite the lowering of the heating output, there was only a very slight decrease in temperature of approx. 5 ° C, which would not be noticed by a person who subsequently entered.

Another example of the operation of a thermal device according to the invention in comparison to a conventional thermal device is in 3rd shown.

As in the previous example, the “temperature” profile actually consists of three curves, namely the measured values from two temperature sensors and the mean value thereof. The two measurement curves are practically congruent and, accordingly, their mean value.

In the comparative example of 3a a conventional thermal facility was operated with an essentially constant heating output that operated in pulsed mode, but was in particular independent of the number of people in the sauna cabin. As expected, the temperature was kept largely constant in the range of approx. 87 and 91 ° C after the initial warm-up phase. Incidentally, the same behavior would be expected with the thermal device according to the invention if it were operated in the empty state. The heating energy averaged over the entire measuring period was 30.72 KWh.

In the example of 3b the thermal device according to the invention was operated in accordance with a scenario typical of winter times or a comparatively high frequency of use. The target temperature was set to 90 ° C and the minimum temperature to 50 ° C. As can be seen from the curves, the heating output was regulated depending on the current number of people. After the initial warm-up phase, the cabin temperature was kept in a well acceptable range between approx. 73 and 90 ° C. The heating energy averaged over the entire measuring period was 28.55 KWh, which is compared to the comparative example of 3a a saving of around 8%.

In the example of 3c the thermal device according to the invention was operated in accordance with a scenario typical of summer times or a comparatively low frequency of use. The set temperature was again set to 90 ° C and the minimum temperature to 50 ° C. As can be seen from the curves, the heating output was again regulated depending on the current number of people. The cabin temperature could be kept in an acceptable range between approx. 50 and 90 ° C after the initial warm-up phase. The heating energy averaged over the entire measuring period shown was only 10.76 KWh, which is compared to the comparative example of 3a a very substantial saving of approx. 65 means.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 19846678 A1 [0003]

Claims (11)

Thermal facility, with a heatable and ventilated thermal cabin (2) for at least one person, the thermal cabin being equipped with adjustable heating means (4) and with adjustable ventilation means (6) and optionally with a temperature sensor (8), characterized in that detection means ( 10) for the continuous detection of the presence of persons in the thermal cabin, who cooperate with a heating control device (12) for the heating means (4) in such a way that, in the absence of presence, a basic heating output and in the presence of a comparatively higher operational heating output is set. Thermal facility after Claim 1 , wherein the detection means are additionally designed to detect the number of people in the thermal cabin. Thermal facility after Claim 1 or 2nd , wherein the detection means additionally interact with a ventilation control device (14) for the ventilation means (6) in such a way that a basic air flow rate is set in the absence of a presence and a comparatively higher operational air flow rate is set in the presence. Thermal facility according to one of the Claims 1 to 3rd , wherein the detection means (10) comprise at least one infrared sensor (16) and a door contact device (18). Thermal facility according to one of the Claims 1 to 4th , wherein the adjustable heating means (4) are designed as a sauna heater. Thermal facility according to one of the Claims 1 to 5 , The adjustable heating means (4) being designed as a steam generator or as an infrared radiator. Thermal facility according to one of the Claims 1 to 6 , whereby the basic heating power is essentially constant. Thermal facility according to one of the Claims 1 to 7 , where the basic heating power is zero. Thermal facility according to one of the Claims 1 to 8th , the basic heating output being controllable in such a way that a predefined basic temperature range is maintained in the thermal cabin. Thermal facility according to one of the Claims 1 to 9 , whereby the operational heating power is essentially constant. Thermal facility according to one of the Claims 1 to 10th , the operative heating output being controllable in such a way that a predefined effective temperature range is maintained in the thermal cabin.

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