Existing Fields – Air Bubble Technology
As part of our effort to create new value in existing fields, our Development Division has developed the industry's first residential-use water heater that provides hot water containing fine bubbles. Fine bubbles are further divided into ultrafine bubbles, micro-bubbles, and so forth depending on bubble diameter. We have designated the technology for generating fine bubbles from water heaters as "Air Bubble Technology" and are working to strengthen our expertise in this area.
We use Air Bubble Technology in our micro-bubble bath units and ultrafine bubble water heaters. It makes the daily bathing experience more relaxing and facilitates cleaning around the home's wet areas. With Air Bubble Technology, we provide new experiences to people's lives.

Features of fine bubbles (ultrafine bubbles and micro-bubbles)
Ultrafine bubbles | Micro-bubbles | |
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Bubble diameter | Several 10s of nm–1µm (Size of virus or smoke particle) * 1µm = 0.001mm |
1µm–100µm (Size of cedar pollen or yellow dust particle) |
Visual perspective | Not visible Transparent (not cloudy) |
Visible (Cloudy) |
Bubble movement | Remains in water for a long time (Weeks to months) Micromotion |
Rises very slowly (Approx. 3mm/minute for 10µm bubbles) Disappears underwater |
Rinnai appliances featuring fine bubble technology
Name of product | Ultrafine-bubble (UFB) water heater | Micro-bubble (MB) bath unit |
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Main product appearance |
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Features |
Our ultrafine bubble water heaters can deliver hot water containing ultrafine bubbles to various places where hot water pipes are connected, such as bathrooms, washrooms, kitchens, and dishwashers. |
Our micro-bubble bath units are water heaters that generate minute air bubbles in the water to offer an enjoyable white-water bathing experience. They provide relaxation and skin hydration just like relaxing in a hot spring. |
Scene |
Areas connected with hot water pipes (such as bathrooms, kitchens, and washrooms) ![]() |
Bathtub ![]() |
Bubble generation method |
Venturi + Shear ![]() |
Pressurized dissolution ![]() |
Bubble flow |
1. Changes the water pressure of the hot water to turn air in the water into bubbles |
1. Draws hot water from the bathtub |
Amount of bubbles generated |
Volume of ultrafine bubbles generated(per 1cc) |
Volume of micro-bubbles generated(per 1cc) Volume of ultrafine bubbles generated(per 1cc) |
Value provided |
Using hot water containing ultrafine bubbles prevents stains and limescale from forming in bathrooms, kitchens, washrooms, and other wet areas. They also prevent grime from sticking inside drainpipes, which are hard to clean, thus reducing the burden of daily cleaning.
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The massive volume of bubbles creates a fine white cloudy water appearance like that of a hot spring, creating a relaxation effect. It also gently warms the body and makes the warm bath feeling last longer. According to feedback, moreover, it helps keep the skin hydrated, which indicates a moisturizing effect. ![]() |
Main effects |
1. Reduced dirt around wet areas 2. Reduced limescale stains 3. Reduced drain-pipe contamination 4. Sustained moisture content in the stratum corneum of the skin |
1. Relaxation effect 2. Moisturizing effect 3. Warm bath effect 4. Cleaning effect 5. Support for falling asleep |