Air humidifier-cooler: features and principle of operation

Dry indoor air can lead to a variety of diseases and a breeding ground for viruses. The problem of dry air is especially common in urban apartments. In cities, in general, very polluted and dry air, let alone densely populated areas. However, you can always find a solution for your apartment, for example, a humidifier. It will keep the air humidity in the apartment at the right level, which will be felt by all its inhabitants, and will also make life easier for people who are allergic to dust or pollen.

An equally important factor is the room temperature. Many houseplants and pets take heat terribly. To lower the temperature in the house, you can also use an air conditioner, but the engineers decided to combine these two devices, and now you can see such a product as a "humidifier-cooler for air" on store shelves.

Humidifier-coolers for air can vary in many ways. Anyone who wants to purchase such a device needs to know about all these differences. Since these gadgets consist of two modules, each module has its own differences. Thus, the humidifier can be steam or ultrasonic, and the cooler can be operated through the first module (i.e. cooling the water vapor) or just function separately.

Only outdated or the cheapest devices now work on this principle. The principle of operation itself is as simple as possible: water is first heated to obtain steam, and then the steam is released into the air in a thin stream. Such a device is somewhat similar to an electric kettle, with the only difference that it turns off when absolutely all the water has boiled away.

The advantages of such structures include the fact that you don't have to change any filters in them... The steam will always be clean and sterile if you only use purified water. The very high performance of the steam modules allows a water discharge rate of 700 ml / hour to be achieved. Using a device with such a module, you can easily increase the humidity level in the room to 60-80%. The disadvantages include high energy consumption and the inability to control the humidity level. Due to the high power, the device will consume quite a lot of energy (and this is not taking into account the cooler).

The most modern humidifier-coolers work with such modules, because it is one of the newest and most productive technologies. Such modules are not only quiet and extremely efficient, but also have a beautiful design. In such designs, water is transferred to a plate that vibrates at an ultrasonic frequency. Water is sprayed onto microparticles and then blown out of the device by special fans.

Besides, such sprayers have built-in humidity sensors, which makes it easy to monitor their operation... Some types of devices also include dust sensors, which make it possible to track the effectiveness of the device. Small size and low noise level make the devices very compact and can be used even in the bedroom. As such, ultrasonic modules have no disadvantages.The only thing that can be attributed to the disadvantages of such designs is the replacement of filters. To enjoy silence, beauty and convenience, you have to replace the special filters inside the device once in a while.

Now we should talk about cooling modules. Basic principles of work: work through a humidifier or independently. Devices whose modules work through each other are quite rare. They are more expensive than models in which the modules work separately. These devices have a 100% chance of using ultrasonic atomization technology.

The cooling itself takes place during the steam ejection stage. Fans that blow out micro-particles of water will make this steam cooler. Such devices are ineffective and cool the air very poorly, because the cooling itself occurs only due to steam. The price of the devices is determined only by their extremely small size: they do not differ much from conventional humidifiers, but they perform two functions at once. These mini-coolers are very mobile, which makes them easy to move or transport.

It should be said right away that such devices are very bulky and take up a lot of space. Their principle of operation is as follows: it is a cross between a regular fan or small air conditioner and a simple air humidifier. Separate operation assumes that the water vapor is not cooled in any way. Steam and cold air exit the device either from different sides or from a cross-sectional view.

When steam and air escape crosswise, it has a greater effect than opposite sides. Air not only blows on the steam and cools it, but also gives it speed. Due to this, the moisturizing process occurs much faster and more efficiently. The devices also consume large amounts of electricity. This is due to the irrational work of both modules of the gadget. Such coolers with a humidification system will really do a good job with their tasks. However, due to their price and large size, they are not suitable for everyone.

Undoubtedly, these devices will make the air in the room much cooler, but they are still ineffective. There is still no technology that will allow these gadgets to outperform conventional air conditioners in terms of efficiency. And since humidifiers-coolers have appeared relatively recently, their prices are much higher than for classic devices like air conditioners. They will do really well only in small spaces. It is much cheaper and more profitable to buy a split system and a good quality humidifier separately.

As the market grows wider, you need to know which models are the best at the moment.

This device can be called a mobile air conditioner with humidification function. This gadget will help you cool a small room up to 15 sq. m and will increase its humidity. The average cooling temperature is about 5 degrees Celsius. In addition to cooling, in winter, the gadget can warm a room up to 45 sq. m.

SABIEL MB16 is a gadget that has three functions at once. In addition to standard humidification and cooling, the device can also ionize the air. It will maintain the necessary aero-ionic composition of the air, which contributes to the feeling of freshness throughout the room. The productivity of the device is incredibly high: 1600m3 per hour. Despite this high efficiency, the device consumes very little power (about 100 W).

The device has a removable mesh, which you can not change, but only clean (thanks to the design of the filter itself). It has a wide angle at which you can direct the air flow (about 100 degrees).

SABIEL MB30V is a more advanced version of the previous model described. This gadget is not only newer, but almost 2 times more expensive (the cost can reach 30,000 rubles as of 2019), so it is not very much in demand. Like its predecessor, the SABIEL MB30V has humidification, cooling and ionization functions. They have not changed in any way, except for the increase in power and efficiency. With the increase in power, the power consumption also increased (from 100 to 115 W).

In addition to the old features, there is one new one: air purification. The device will not only humidify and freshen the air, but also clean it. During the operation of the gadget, air enters and exits the device cooled and ionized. On its way through the device, air passes through a layer of water, where the process of interaction takes place - aquafiltration. The water from this filter absorbs all the dust and other "extra" substances from the air, and then goes into a special sump, from where it will need to be poured. Like its predecessor, the SABIEL MB30V is a mobile air conditioner. This means that it can not only cool, but also heat the air when you need it.

Another humidifier-cooler that will save you from both heat and cold. Compared to the previous model, the size and efficiency of the device have been increased. Now the gadget is able to consume as much as 3 liters per hour, and the power is as much as 200 watts instead of 115. Manufacturers were able to make their device less noisy: now its noise level is around 45 dB.

Honeywell ES800 can be safely called a whole climate control unit. The device has many advantages over other competitors. Like many other models, Honeywell ES800 can clean air, cool, humidify and ionize it. There is a built-in tank for 8 liters and several operating modes. Operating modes can be selected from "normal" to "turbo". During operation in "turbo" mode, the noise can reach 47 dB, which is an excellent indicator.

The device has a built-in timer that will allow you not to worry about the presence of water in it. The timer can set the running time from 0.5 to 7.5 hours without interruption. The gadget consumes quite a bit of electricity: depending on the mode, up to 70 watts.

In the next video, you will find a brief overview of the Honeywell ES800 humidifier-air purifier with ventilation.