Smoke for testing airflow in a sauna ?
tundracycle
| Posted in General Questions on
I am doing some research on CO2 levels in saunas and am looking for a good way to see airflows within them. This will be in real saunas that are used regularly so odors or chemical films left on surfaces are extremely undesirable. These are typically unfinished open pore softwoods so could be very susceptible to chemicals.
My experience with fog machines is that they nearly always leave a residue behind. Are there some that don’t?
I’m somewhat familiar w/ the Regin smoke products but have no idea how they would be from an odor/chemical standpoint.
Other suggestions?
Thanks,
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Replies
You might want to try small chunks of dry ice in cups of hot water. The "smoke" produced by these isn't very long lasting, especially if it's a hot area, but it doesn't leave any residue at all since it's quite literally only CO2.
Bill
Thanks. That's a great idea. I wonder if it will follow the airflows (that are generally upwards) or stick to the ground?
In my experience working with it (in theatrical enviornments, not saunas :-), it is heavier than air and tends to follow the ground, but will also follow air currents. You'd probably see updrafts as swirls or lifts in the fog, but it might not go all the way to the ceiling. I'd use several cups at different heights to track the air movement vertically.
dry ice fog might not be the best for tracking air currents, but it's the only thing I know of that I know for sure won't leave any residue at all on anything.
Bill