LOW POWER DEHUMIDIFIER

A low power dehumidifier includes a body, a desiccation element, and heat transfer elements. The desiccation element has a dehumidifying region and a recycling region. Each of the heat transfer elements has a cooling end and a heating end configured for high-temperature condensation and high-temperature heating, respectively, thereby effectively recycling waste high heat generated by the dehumidifier and reducing power consumption.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to dehumidifiers, and more particularly, to a low power desiccant wheel dehumidifier.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A conventional dehumidifier works by using a compressor in compressing a coolant, and entails introducing air into an evaporator inside the dehumidifier by means of a fan, and condensing moisture in the air into droplets adhering to a tray or a tube of the evaporator due to low temperature (of 5° C. approximately) of the evaporator; and the phenomenon is known as low-temperature dehumidifying. Efficiency of dehumidifying, which correlates closely with air temperature and surface temperature of the tray or tube of the evaporator, deteriorates in winter and in the nighttime when temperature is low and therefore adds to power consumption.

A conventional desiccant wheel dehumidifier works quickly, easily and efficiently and therefore is effective in overcoming the drawbacks of low-temperature dehumidifying. A conventional desiccant wheel dehumidifier comprises a desiccant wheel made of a dehumidifying material, such as porous silica gel or zeolite, and partitioned into regions, namely a dehumidifying region and a recycling region. The conventional desiccant wheel dehumidifier works in the following steps: the dehumidifying material adsorbs water vapor in the air; the recycling region evaporates water vapor adsorbed by the dehumidifying material; the air thus treated is delivered to a heat exchanger and turned into humid hot air; the humid hot air returns to the heat exchanger cooled down by humid cool indoor air so as for water vapor in the returning humid hot air to be condensed into water due to dew point difference; and the condensed water is discharged from the desiccant wheel dehumidifier. Furthermore, given coordinated arrangement and a favorable dew point, conventional desiccant wheel dehumidifiers can work at 40° C. below zero or even lower; hence, desiccant wheel dehumidifiers are popular with consumers.

Referring to FIG. 1, which is a schematic view of a conventional desiccant wheel dehumidifier for dehumidifying air, a body 100 is internally provided with a heat exchanger 10, a desiccant wheel 12, an air dehumidifying device 14, an electric heater 16, and an air recycling device 18. The desiccant wheel 12 has a dehumidifying region 12A and a recycling region 12B and rotates when driven by a transmission 12C. Humid ambient air A1 (with temperature of 21.5° C. and relative humidity of 31%) is introduced into the body 100 to undergo heat exchange at the heat exchanger 10 before turning into humid hot air (with temperature of 29.9° C.). Then, the humid hot air is delivered to the dehumidifying region 12A of the desiccant wheel 12 so as for water vapor in the humid hot air to be adsorbed. Upon completion of adsorption of water vapor, the humid hot air turns into dry air A3 (with temperature of 39° C.). Then, the dry air A3 is pumped out of the body 100 by the air dehumidifying device 14. The transmission 12C drives the desiccant wheel 12 to rotate so as to position a water-adsorbed portion (located at the dehumidifying region 12A) of the desiccant wheel 12 in the recycling region 12B where desorption of water is achieved by a heat-drying process. During the heat-drying process configured for desorption of water, recycled air B1 with relative humidity of 20% is heated up in the recycling region 12B by the electric heater 16 and thereby turned into humid hot air B2 of above 110° C. Then, the humid hot air B2 is delivered to the recycling region 12B of the desiccant wheel 12 to undergo desorption of water vapor and therefore turn into humid, hot recycled air B3 (with temperature of 59° C. and relative humidity of 100%). Afterward, the humid, hot recycled air B3 is pumped, by the air recycling device 18, into the heat exchanger 10 so as for water vapor in the humid, hot recycled air B3 to be condensed into water. The condensed water is delivered, via a channel provided in the heat exchanger 10, to a container at the bottom of the dehumidifier. Air A8 (with temperature of 45° C. and relative humidity of 100%) released as a result of heat exchange performed by the heat exchanger 10 is heated up by the electric heater 16 and turned into hot air B1 (with temperature of 110° C.). The hot air B1 desorbs water otherwise adhering to the desiccant wheel 12. Heat of condensation is released from the air recycling region of the desiccant wheel 12 twice (in the dehumidifying region 12A of the desiccant wheel 12 moisture in the air is condensed into water droplets, and in the recycling region 12B of the desiccant wheel 12 the water droplets are evaporated, and then the water vapor thus formed is condensed into water droplets again by the heat exchanger 10 before being discharged from the desiccant wheel dehumidifier). Hence, two times the heat of condensation of one liter of water is required for dehumidifying one liter of water and must be supplied by the electric heater 16; in other words, electric power must be supplied so as to increase temperature from 45° C. to 110° C. Conventional dehumidifiers usually consume electric power at 670 Watts per hour, of which 600 Watts per hour is supplied by the electric heaters, thereby adding to power consumption incurred in dehumidifying air. Hence, conventional desiccant wheel dehumidifiers are highly power-consuming electric appliances.

Accordingly, the dehumidifying related industrial sector is confronted with an urgent issue that involves developing a low power dehumidifier capable of reducing power consumption.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the drawbacks of the prior art, it is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a low power dehumidifier to reduce power consumption.

To achieve the above and other objectives, the present invention provides a low power dehumidifier including: a body internally having a first channel for taking in humid ambient air and a second channel; a desiccation element provided inside the body, defined with a dehumidifying region and a recycling region, and configured for communication with condensing regions and heating regions of the second channel; and at least a heat transfer element having a cooling end positioned in the condensing regions of the second channel and a heating end positioned in the heating regions of the second channel, wherein the humid ambient air is introduced into the dehumidifying region of the desiccation element via the first channel to undergo water adsorption before proceeding to the second channel to turn into recycled air, thereby allowing the recycled air to be heated up in the heating regions, undergo water desorption in the recycling region of the desiccation element, and proceed to the condensing regions where water vapor in the recycled air condenses.

In a preferred embodiment, the desiccation element is a desiccant wheel, and dry air resulting from treatment of the humid ambient air by the desiccation element is discharged from the body via the first channel.

In another preferred embodiment, the at least a heat transfer element is a thermoelectric cooler (TEC), and the thermoelectric cooler comprises p-type and n-type semiconductor elements and a conductor interposed therebetween.

In a further preferred embodiment, an electric heater for heating the recycled air to a required temperature is provided between the desiccation element and the heating end of the at least a heat transfer element.

To achieve the above and other objectives, the present invention further provides a low power dehumidifier including: a body internally having a first channel for taking in humid ambient air and a second channel; a desiccation element provided inside the body, defined with a dehumidifying region and a recycling region, and configured for communication with condensing regions and heating regions of the second channel; and at least a heat transfer element comprising a compressor, a first condenser positioned in the heating regions of the second channel and positioned proximate to the desiccation element, a second condenser positioned upstream of the first condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, and receiving a working fluid, wherein the humid ambient air is introduced into the dehumidifying region of the desiccation element via the first channel to undergo water adsorption before proceeding to the second channel to turn into recycled air, thereby allowing the recycled air to be heated up in the heating regions, undergo water desorption in the recycling region of the desiccation element, and proceed to the condensing regions where water vapor in the recycled air condenses.

In a further preferred embodiment, the low power dehumidifier further comprises a heat exchanger, and the heat transfer element comprises a compressor, a first condenser, a second condenser, a third condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, and receives a working fluid, wherein the third condenser is provided between the second condenser and the expansion valve, positioned in the heating regions of the second channel, and positioned proximate to the desiccation element.

To achieve the above and other objectives, the present invention further provides a low power dehumidifier including: a body internally having a first channel for taking in humid ambient air and a second channel; a desiccation element provided inside the body, defined with a dehumidifying region and a recycling region, and configured for communication with condensing regions and heating regions of the second channel; and at least a heat transfer element having a closed chamber provided with a condensation end and an evaporation end and internally formed with a capillary structure so as for a working fluid to pass through the capillary structure, wherein an evaporator functioning as an cooling end is positioned at the condensing regions of the second channel, and the condensation end functioning as a heating end is positioned at the heating regions of the second channel, wherein the humid ambient air is introduced into the dehumidifying region of the desiccation element via the first channel to undergo water adsorption before proceeding to the second channel to turn into recycled air, thereby allowing the recycled air to be heated up in the heating regions, undergo water desorption in the recycling region of the desiccation element, and proceed to the condensing regions where water vapor in the recycled air condenses.

In a further preferred embodiment, an electric heater for heating the recycled air to a required temperature is provided between the desiccation element and the heating end of the at least a heat transfer element.

Unlike the prior art that taught heating up recycled air to a required temperature by an electric heater directly, the present invention discloses a heat transfer element having a cooling end and a heating end configured for high-temperature condensation and high-temperature heating, respectively, so as to efficiently recycle waste high heat generated by the dehumidifier and thereby reduce power consumption.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional desiccant wheel dehumidifier for dehumidifying air;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a first preferred embodiment of a low power dehumidifier of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment of the low power dehumidifier of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a third preferred embodiment of the low power dehumidifier of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the low power dehumidifier of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the low power dehumidifier of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a sixth preferred embodiment of the low power dehumidifier of the present invention.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is herein illustrated with specific embodiments, so that one skilled in the pertinent art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the disclosure of the invention.

A low power dehumidifier of the present invention comprises a desiccation element and heat transfer elements. The appended drawings show only elements related to the present invention, but are not intended to limit the present invention. For the sake of conciseness, the desiccation element of the present invention is exemplified by a desiccant wheel as shown in the appended drawings.

First Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a first preferred embodiment of a low power dehumidifier of the present invention. For the sake of conciseness, heat transfer elements of the present invention are exemplified by at least a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) as shown in FIG. 2, but the present invention is not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 2, a low power dehumidifier of the present invention comprises: a body 200, a desiccant wheel 20, thermoelectric coolers 22, 24 (that is, heat transfer elements), and an electric heater 23. The thermoelectric coolers 22, 24 have cooling ends 221, 241 and heating ends 222, 242, respectively. Specifically speaking, the thermoelectric coolers 22, 24 each comprise p-type and n-type semiconductor elements and a conventional conductor interposed therebetween so as to form a complete circuit. Heat exchange takes place between the cooling ends 221, 241 and the heating ends 222, 242 due to current-induced temperature difference (Peltier Effect) or temperature difference-induced current (Seeback Effect). The thermoelectric coolers 22, 24 operate by principles well known by persons skilled in the art; hence, details of the operating principles of the thermoelectric coolers 22, 24 are omitted herein for the sake of brevity. The operating principles of this preferred embodiment of the dehumidifier of the present invention are described in detail hereunder.

The body 200 is internally provided with a first channel (marked with arrows indicated by A1′ through A3′) for taking in humid ambient air A1′ and a second channel (marked with arrows indicated by B1′ through B4′) composed of heating regions B1′, B2′ and condensing regions B3′, B4′.

The desiccant wheel 20 is provided inside the body 200, defined with a dehumidifying region 20A and a recycling region 20B, and provided with a transmission 20C. The humid ambient air A1′ is introduced, by passing through an air treatment inlet and turning into air to be treated A2′, into the dehumidifying region 20A of the desiccation wheel 20. Then, the air to be treated A2′ undergoes water adsorption and turns into dry air A3′. Afterward, the dry air A3′ is discharged from the dehumidifier by means of an air dehumidifying device 14 and thereby delivered to an environment to be dehumidified. Meanwhile, the transmission 20C positions a water-adsorbed portion of the desiccant wheel 20 in the recycling region 20B where desorption of water is achieved by a heat-drying process. During the heat-drying process configured for desorption of water, recycled air B1′ is heated up by the heating end 242 of the thermoelectric cooler 24 and thereby turned into humid hot air B2′ of 110° C. Then, the humid hot air B2′ undergoes desorption of water in the recycling region 20B of the desiccant wheel 20 before being pumped out of the desiccant wheel 20 by an air recycling device 18. Then, the humid hot air B2′ proceeds to the thermoelectric cooler 22. At the cooling end 221 of the thermoelectric cooler 22, the humid hot air B2′ is cooled down and thus water vapor therein condenses; meanwhile, the humid hot air B2′ turns into condensation-treated air B3′. Then, condensed water is delivered to a container (not shown) at the bottom of the body 200 of the dehumidifier, wherein the container is configured to contain the condensed water collected therein. Afterward, the condensation-treated air B3′ undergoes desorption of water at the heating end 222 of the thermoelectric cooler 22 and thereby turns into water-desorbed air B4′. Then, the water-desorbed air B4′ is delivered to the recycling region 20B of the desiccant wheel 20 so as for the water-desorbed air B4′ to be heated up by the electric heater 23. In so doing, the heat previously generated to enable desorption of water to take place in the desiccant wheel 20 is recycled. Specifically speaking, the heating end 242 of the thermoelectric cooler 24 favorably reaches temperature as high as 80 to 90° C., thereby allowing temperature of the recycled air B2′ to increase by as little as 30 to 40° C. when heated by the electric heater 23. In so doing, the dehumidifier of the present invention excels a conventional dehumidifier in power-saving, because a conventional dehumidifier entails increasing temperature of recycled air by 60° C. (110° C.−50° C.=60° C.).

Second Preferred Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 3, a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment of the low power dehumidifier of the present invention is shown. The second preferred embodiment differs from the first preferred embodiment in that, in the second preferred embodiment, the low power dehumidifier further comprises a heat exchanger 21. As shown in the drawing, after passing through the heat exchanger 21, humid ambient air is delivered to the dehumidifying region 20A of the desiccant wheel 20. Also, as shown in the drawing, after being treated by the thermoelectric cooler 22, the humid hot air B2′ is introduced into the heat exchanger 21 via the condensing regions B3′, B4′ of the second channel so as for the humid hot air B2′ to be cooled down by the heat exchanger 21 and the water vapor in the humid hot air B2′ to be condensed. Then, condensed water is delivered to a container (not shown) at the bottom of the body 200 of the dehumidifier via B3′ and B4′ of the second channel, wherein the container is configured to contain the condensed water collected therein. The operating principle of the second preferred embodiment of the dehumidifier is the same as that of the first preferred embodiment of the dehumidifier; hence, details of the operating principle of the second preferred embodiment of the dehumidifier are omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

In the preceding preferred embodiments, recycled air which is going to undergo desorption of water is directly heated up by the thermoelectric cooler 24, or, alternatively, recycled air which is going to undergo desorption of water is heated up by the thermoelectric cooler 24 and then heated up by the electric heater 23 so as to provide hot air of sufficiently high temperature and allow the hot air to pass through the desiccant wheel 20 for desorption of water. Compared to a conventional dehumidifier that entails heating up recycled air to sufficiently high temperature by an electric heater directly, the dehumidifier of the present invention is more efficient in power saving.

Third Preferred Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 4, a schematic view of a third preferred embodiment of the low power dehumidifier of the present invention is shown. As shown in the drawing, the third preferred embodiment differs from the first preferred embodiment in that, in the third preferred embodiment, a heat transfer element is provided in the form of a refrigeration cycle system instead of the thermoelectric coolers 22, 24. As shown in the drawing, the refrigeration cycle system comprises a compressor 260, a first condenser 261, a second condenser 262, an expansion valve 264, and an evaporator 266, and receives a working fluid L, such as a coolant, passing through the refrigeration cycle system. The body 300 is internally provided with a first channel (marked with arrows indicated by A1′ through A3′) for taking in humid ambient air A1′ and a second channel (marked with arrows indicated by B1′ through B6′) composed of heating regions B1′, B2′, B5′, B6′ and condensing regions B3′, B4′. A heat exchanger 21 is provided in the condensing regions B3′, B4′ of the second channel. The heat exchanger 21 is positioned between the condensing regions B3′, B4′ of the second channel and the evaporator 266. The working fluid L passes through the compressor 260, the first condenser 261, the second condenser 262, the expansion valve 264, and the evaporator 266 in sequence. The first condenser 261 is positioned proximate to the heating regions B2′ of the second channel. The second condenser 262 is positioned downstream of the first condenser 261. The operating principles of the third preferred embodiment of the dehumidifier are described in detail hereunder.

After being treated by the heat exchanger 21, the humid ambient air A1′ is turned into air to be treated A2′. Then, the air to be treated A2′ enters the dehumidifying region 20A of the desiccant wheel 20 to undergo adsorption of moisture in the air to be treated A2′ and turn into dry air A3′. Afterward, the dry air A3′ is discharged from the dehumidifier via a channel (not shown). Meanwhile, a transmission (not shown) positions a water-adsorbed portion of the desiccant wheel 20 in the recycling region 20B where desorption of water is achieved by a heat-drying process. At the beginning of the heat-drying process configured for desorption of water, recycled air is heated up by the compressor 260 (for generating high pressure and high temperature) and the first condenser 262, thereby allowing hot air passes through the desiccant wheel 20 to enable water vapor in the hot air to desorbed, and in consequence the hot air turns into humid hot recycled air B2′. Meanwhile, the humid hot recycled air B2′ turns into humid hot air B3′ The humid hot air B3′ in the second channel is delivered to the heat exchanger 21 and cooled down by the heat exchanger 21, thereby allowing water vapor in the humid hot air B3′ to condense and the humid hot air B3′ to turn into water-desorbed air B4′. Afterward, humid air B5′ decreases in temperature by passing through the evaporator 266 and thereby turns into humid air B6′. Then, the humid air B6′ increases in temperature by passing through the compressor 260. The recycled air B1′ passes through a second condenser 261 and a first condenser 262 and therefore is heated up by the second condenser 261 and the first condenser 262 due to temperature difference therebetween so as for the recycled air B1′ to turn into the hot air B2′; and the cycle continues. Specifically speaking, the working fluid L introduced into the first condenser 261 from the compressor 260 is susceptible to high-temperature condensation (because of a pipe wall surface temperature of 95° C. approximately), and then the working fluid L undergoes low-temperature condensation (because of a pipe wall surface temperature of 50° C. approximately) at the second condenser 262. Then, the working fluid L decreases in temperature and pressure when passing through the expansion valve 264 and the evaporator 266, respectively. Afterward, the working fluid L returns to the compressor 260 to finalize the refrigeration cycle. The recycled air B1′ is heated up by a high-temperature pipe wall configured for high-temperature condensation when passing through the first condenser 261, thereby allowing temperature of the recycled air B1′ to increase by as little as 20° C. (110° C.−90° C.=20° C.) when heated by the electric heater 23. In so doing, the dehumidifier of the present invention excels a conventional dehumidifier in power-saving, because a conventional dehumidifier entails increasing temperature of recycled air by 60° C. (110° C.−50° C.=60° C.) by means of the second condenser 262 directly, thereby reducing power consumption of the electric heater 23 but making no substantive changes in the heat circulation of the refrigeration system.

Fourth Preferred Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 5, a schematic view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the low power dehumidifier of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the fourth preferred embodiment differs from the third preferred embodiment in that, in the fourth preferred embodiment, the evaporator 266 is positioned between the desiccant wheel and the heat exchanger 21 so as to ensure high temperature of a coolant entering the compressor 260, which lessens the coolant's capacity of refrigeration and thereby lessens the dehumidifier's dehumidifying capacity. The operating principles of the fourth preferred embodiment of the dehumidifier are the same as that of the third preferred embodiment of the dehumidifier; hence, details of the operating principles of the fourth preferred embodiment of the dehumidifier are omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

Fifth Preferred Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 6, a schematic view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the low power dehumidifier of the present invention is shown. As shown in the drawing, the fifth preferred embodiment differs from the third and fourth preferred embodiments in that, in the fifth preferred embodiment, the evaporator 266 is positioned in the heating regions B6′ of the second channel but is opposite to the recycling region 20B, and dry air A3′ which flows along the first channel before being discharged from the desiccant wheel 20 passes through the evaporator 266 and thereby cools down to an appropriate temperature (a temperature comfortable to the human body, for example, 27° C.) to meet the need for refrigeration. The operating principles of the sixth preferred embodiment of the dehumidifier are the same as that of the third and fourth preferred embodiments of the dehumidifier; hence, details of the operating principles of the sixth preferred embodiment of the dehumidifier are omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

Sixth Preferred Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 7, a schematic view of a sixth preferred embodiment of the low power dehumidifier of the present invention is shown. As shown in the drawing, the sixth preferred embodiment differs from the third preferred embodiment in that: in the sixth preferred embodiment, the heat transfer element further comprises a third condenser 263 provided between the second condenser 262 and the expansion valve 264, positioned in the heating regions B6′ of the second channel, and positioned proximate to the desiccation element; and, in the sixth preferred embodiment, the heat exchanger 21 is omitted such that heat exchange is directly carried out between the evaporator 266 and the first condenser 261. Hence, in the sixth preferred embodiment, no work is performed on the heat exchanger 21, nor is the electric heater 23 required. The operating principles of the sixth preferred embodiment of the dehumidifier are the same as that of the fifth preferred embodiment of the dehumidifier; hence, details of the operating principles of the sixth preferred embodiment of the dehumidifier are omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

Referring to FIG. 4 through FIG. 7, the compressor 261 directly heats up recycled air that is going to undergo desorption of water, or, alternatively, the compressor 261, coupled with an electric heater, heats up recycled air that is going to undergo desorption of water such that hot air of sufficiently high temperature passes through the desiccant wheel in order to undergo desorption of water. Unlike the prior art that taught heating up recycled air to a sufficiently high temperature by an electric heater directly, the present invention provides a dehumidifier more effective in power saving.

The other preferred embodiments of the present invention have the following technical features: the compressor 261 is omitted and is replaced by a heat pipe; the heat transfer element has a closed chamber provided with a condensation end and an evaporation end and internally formed with a capillary structure (functionally equivalent to the expansion valve 264) so as for a working fluid to pass through the capillary structure, wherein the evaporator functioning as an cooling end is positioned at the condensing regions of the second channel, and the condensation end functioning as a heating end is positioned at the heating regions of the second channel. Details of the heat pipe in the other preferred embodiments of the present invention are omitted herein for the sake of brevity, as not only are heat pipes well known by persons skilled, but there is not any difference in the operating principles of the heat pipe between the preferred embodiments.

The foregoing specific embodiments are only illustrative of the features and functions of the present invention but are not intended to restrict the scope of the present invention. It is apparent to those skilled in the art that all equivalent modifications and variations made in the foregoing embodiments according to the spirit and principle in the disclosure of the present invention should fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A low power dehumidifier, comprising:

a body internally having a first channel for taking in humid ambient air and a second channel;
a desiccation element provided inside the body, defined with a dehumidifying region and a recycling region, and configured for communication with condensing regions and heating regions of the second channel; and
at least a heat transfer element having a cooling end positioned in the condensing regions of the second channel and a heating end positioned in the heating regions of the second channel, wherein the humid ambient air is introduced into the dehumidifying region of the desiccation element via the first channel to undergo water adsorption before proceeding to the second channel to turn into recycled air, thereby allowing the recycled air to be heated up in the heating regions, undergo water desorption in the recycling region of the desiccation element, and proceed to the condensing regions where water vapor in the recycled air condenses.

2. The low power dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein the desiccation element is a desiccant wheel.

3. The low power dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein the desiccation element is made of a dehumidifying material.

4. The low power dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein dry air resulting from treatment of the humid ambient air by the desiccation element is discharged from the body via the first channel.

5. The low power dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein the at least a heat transfer element is a thermoelectric cooler (TEC).

6. The low power dehumidifier of claim 5, wherein the thermoelectric cooler comprises p-type and n-type semiconductor elements and a conductor interposed therebetween.

7. The low power dehumidifier of claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger.

8. The low power dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein an electric heater for heating the recycled air to a required temperature is provided between the desiccation element and the heating end of the at least a heat transfer element.

9. A low power dehumidifier, comprising:

a body internally having a first channel for taking in humid ambient air and a second channel;
a desiccation element provided inside the body, defined with a dehumidifying region and a recycling region, and configured for communication with condensing regions and heating regions of the second channel; and
at least a heat transfer element comprising a compressor, a first condenser positioned in the heating regions of the second channel and positioned proximate to the desiccation element, a second condenser positioned upstream of the first condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, and receiving a working fluid, wherein the humid ambient air is introduced into the dehumidifying region of the desiccation element via the first channel to undergo water adsorption before proceeding to the second channel to turn into recycled air, thereby allowing the recycled air to be heated up in the heating regions, undergo water desorption in the recycling region of the desiccation element, and proceed to the condensing regions where water vapor in the recycled air condenses.

10. The low power dehumidifier of claim 9, wherein the evaporator is positioned in the condensing regions of the second channel.

11. The low power dehumidifier of claim 10, wherein the heat exchanger is positioned in the condensing regions of the second channel.

12. The low power dehumidifier of claim 9, wherein the heat transfer element further comprises a third condenser provided between the second condenser and the expansion valve, positioned in the heating regions of the second channel, and positioned proximate to the desiccation element.

13. The low power dehumidifier of claim 9, wherein an electric heater for heating the recycled air to a required temperature is provided between the desiccation element and the heating end of the at least a heat transfer element.

14. The low power dehumidifier of claim 9, wherein the working fluid is a coolant.

15. A low power dehumidifier, comprising:

a body internally having a first channel for taking in humid ambient air and a second channel;
a desiccation element provided inside the body, defined with a dehumidifying region and a recycling region, and configured for communication with condensing regions and heating regions of the second channel; and
at least a heat transfer element having a closed chamber provided with a condensation end and an evaporation end and internally formed with a capillary structure so as for a working fluid to pass through the capillary structure, wherein an evaporator functioning as an cooling end is positioned at the condensing regions of the second channel, and the condensation end functioning as a heating end is positioned at the heating regions of the second channel, wherein the humid ambient air is introduced into the dehumidifying region of the desiccation element via the first channel to undergo water adsorption before proceeding to the second channel to turn into recycled air, thereby allowing the recycled air to be heated up in the heating regions, undergo water desorption in the recycling region of the desiccation element, and proceed to the condensing regions where water vapor in the recycled air condenses.

16. The low power dehumidifier of claim 15, wherein an electric heater for heating the recycled air to a required temperature is provided between the desiccation element and the heating end of the at least a heat transfer element.

17. The low power dehumidifier of claim 15, wherein the working fluid is a coolant.

Patent History
Publication number: 20100132379
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 13, 2009
Publication Date: Jun 3, 2010
Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE (Hsinchu)
Inventors: Hsi-Sheng WU (Hsinchu), Hsu-Cheng CHIANG (Hsinchu)
Application Number: 12/540,565
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Thermoelectric; E.g., Peltier Effect (62/3.2); Atmosphere And Sorbent Contacting Type (62/271); Compressor-condenser-evaporator Circuit (62/498)
International Classification: F25B 21/02 (20060101); F24F 3/14 (20060101); F25B 1/00 (20060101);