Climatic equipment is constantly evolving, offering the consumer new opportunities for regulating microclimate parameters. The solution to the problem of air humidification has long passed from the category of optional filling of massive condensers and was implemented in the form of full-fledged independent devices. Today, those who want to refresh the premises in the house with moisture particles are offered a huge range of compact humidifiers. And a separate place in this class of equipment is occupied by an ultrasonic fog generator, which is also suitable for domestic use, but at the same time has its own operational features.
General information about fog machines
Externally, such devices resemble large humidifiers or small-sized mobile air conditioners. By design, this is a small unit that is connected to the mains and operates in a given mode. The principles of operation of the device are much more interesting. There are two types of generators - for the formation of haze (decorative) and directly for moisturizing cold fog. In the first case, generation is carried out mechanically under pressure - through a pump and a compressor, literallysmall particles of liquid are squeezed out and thrown into the room. A feature of such systems is that they do not work with ordinary water, but with aerosols and modified mixtures. Of course, they also contain water in their base, but as a diluent. The active ingredients are usually glycerin or glycol. In turn, the ultrasonic fog generator focuses specifically on the spraying of cold water particles in order to change the microclimatic characteristics. The principle of operation of this device deserves special attention.
How do ultrasound models work?
To understand the features of the operation of such devices, it is important to define two components of the workflow - this is the device directly generating ultrasound and the working environment. The first component acts on the working fluid medium by means of vibrational waves (ultrasound) at frequencies sufficient to break the surface layer into small elements. In the process of operation, the aquatic environment is called voiced - at the moment, the ultrasonic fog generator performs the following operations on it:
- Impact on the surface.
- Increasing the surface of interaction of sound waves with liquid.
- Dispersion. Scattering of liquid particles against the background of fine grinding.
- Emulsification. Emulsion generation.
It is not always necessary to complete a full cycle of the described operations. Moreover, not every generator, in principle, can carry out, for example, dispersion andemulsification. Specific modes of operation with the list of operations are set by the user himself.
Specifications
In the characteristics of the device, one can trace the differences from conventional humidifiers. First of all, it is power. For an apartment or a small house, a device of 700-1000 watts is enough. But if we are talking about large studios, venues or pavilions, then the power should be about 1200-1500 watts. From this indicator follows the productivity, which is 250-300 m2/min. That is, this is the volume of generation and delivery of steam. Sometimes manufacturers calculate this value in "cubes". In this case, the average performance will be 50-70 m3/min. As for the power supply characteristics, 220 V is quite enough to serve a household ultrasonic humidifier. The fog generator from the professional segment, however, can also be powered by a three-phase 380 V network. These are industrial installations, which are also large in size.
Positive Feedback
From the point of view of an ordinary consumer, ultrasonic generators are distinguished by the ability to quickly fill the room with fog. If the same humidifier or even a steam generator requires from 30 minutes to 1.5-2 hours to provide the desired result, then in the case of a fog generator, it takes 8-10 minutes. The pluses include the quality of spraying, which characterizes even a budget fogger. The ultrasonic fog generator also shows itself well in terms of protective qualities. It is resistant to network congestion and external influences, including temperature.
Negative reviews
Despite the attractive working qualities, the ergonomics of most generators of this type leaves much to be desired. Both in terms of design qualities and in terms of operation, users value neat and compact devices for humidification and air washing more. In addition, generators require special maintenance. For example, during operation, the membrane for the fog generator of an ultrasonic humidifier must be periodically cleaned or replaced, but components for such equipment are not always easy to find on the market. On the other hand, many owners note a high degree of structural reliability, so breakdowns are rare.
Self-made generator
To assemble the generator, you will need an ultrasonic module for the oscillation function, a power supply, a fan, a plastic container, and plumbing fittings to ensure fluid input. During operation, the ultrasonic module will create an oscillatory effect with the release of small water particles. In turn, the fan is installed in front of this module, bringing the particles that are raised outside into the room. Accordingly, the water will be in the container all this time. What other functions should an ultrasonic fogger have? With your own hands, you can assemble a float that will rise and fall independing on the water level. This function is important if you plan to leave the device running for several hours or even days. As the liquid dissipates, the system will approach the shutdown point, which will just provoke a float with the mechanics of pressing the corresponding button on the power supply.
How to choose an ultrasonic fogger?
Much depends on the purpose of the generator. Most often, such devices are purchased to humidify the room, if before that it was dry in it. In this case, the basic parameters are important, including the intensity of fog production, productivity and quality of spraying as such, so that the resulting cloud does not lead to waterlogging of wallpaper or furniture. Again, there are models designed solely for a decorative function. They only create haze with a certain density, which can be used in studio shooting. In this case, you should prefer an ultrasonic fog generator with backlight, which will make the same cloud visually brighter and more spectacular. It is important to take into account the possibility of using the generator outside the house, that is, without the possibility of connecting to the mains. There are also such devices - they will need to calculate the potential of the battery. On average, batteries provide 30-60 minutes of battery life.
Conclusion
For all their merits, fogging generators have not yet fully fit into the domesticapplications. This is evidenced by backward ergonomics and an outdated control system. And this is understandable, since the devices came from the industrial segment, in which such qualities are practically not taken into account. Conversely, the performance of this solution is more than adequate for home maintenance. As for the cost, it is also rather big - an average of 5-6 thousand rubles. However, on the Avito resource, an ultrasonic fog generator can be found for 2 thousand. Here, by the way, it will be possible to negotiate with sellers of components with consumables for the device. They are also inexpensive, but it is important to consider the ratio of the technical parameters of the components to the design of the generator. For the same membranes, the dimensions are standardized, but there are also modern modifications to which new regulatory requirements were imposed. Therefore, before buying, you should carefully check the conformity of individual parts and accessories.
