Dehumidifier System Device and Method

Abstract

A dehumidifier system and device for maintaining a dry air environment in enclosures by extracting the water to outside the enclosure. The dehumidifier device comprises a condensation unit, typically a thermoelectric clement with a moisture collector, and a sealed pump, such as peristaltic pump, which pumps the condensed humidity out of the sealed enclosure, yet maintains the enclosure seal. The system is provided with a controller which alternately activates the thermoelectric element and the pump, in at least one mode: continuous, periodical, and programmable utilizing a humidity/relative humidity sensor. Optionally, in large-volume enclosures and containers, a fan assembly is connected to the controller so as to provide for rapid circulation of the air and removal of moisture.

1 . A dehumidifier device for removing condensed humidity out of a sealed enclosure, said dehumidifier device comprising:
 a controller;   a condenser unit, having a thermoelectric element in close proximity to a moisture collector; and   a sealed pump unit comprising:
 a pump mounted in a housing, and 
 a hose for directing moisture external to said sealed enclosure, 
   
     wherein when said controller operates said condenser unit and said sealed pump unit, collected moisture is pumped out of said sealed enclosure through said hose. 
   
   
       2 . The dehumidifier device of  claim 1  further provided with at least one means for exhausting moisture out into the atmosphere selected from the group comprising:
 a vaporizing heater unit provided on the exhaust side of said condenser unit for vaporizing condensed water exiting said sealed enclosure;   a blower to spread the condensed water out into the air in miniature drops; and   an ultrasonic vaporizer.   
   
   
       3 . The dehumidifier device of  claim 1  further provided with a fan assembly connected to said controller so as to provide for rapid circulation of the air and removal of moisture in larger volume enclosures. 
   
   
       4 . The dehumidifier device of  claim 1  wherein said controller comprises an electronic circuit. 
   
   
       5 . The dehumidifier device of  claim 1  wherein said pump is provided with a one-way valve to prevent back-flow into said sealed enclosure. 
   
   
       6 . The dehumidifier device of  claim 1  wherein said pump is a peristaltic-type, liquid pump. 
   
   
       7 . The dehumidifier device of  claim 1  wherein said pump is a piezo-based micro-pump. 
   
   
       8 . The dehumidifier device of  claim 1  wherein said controller is connected to said thermoelectric element and said sealed pump unit so as to provide alternating cycles of activation and deactivation of said thermoelectric element and said sealed pump unit to produce a Peltier effect, alternatively heating and cooling said condenser unit. 
   
   
       9 . The dehumidifier device of  claim 8  wherein said condenser unit is oriented so as provide a cold face directly exposed to air flow when alternatively cooled by said Peltier effect. 
   
   
       10 . The dehumidifier device of  claim 8  wherein said cold face is cooled to a temperature less than zero degrees Celsius so that moisture contacting said cold face immediately turns into ice. 
   
   
       11 . The dehumidifier device of  claim 8  wherein said cold face is periodically heated by changing the polarity of the Peltier effect applied to said thermoelectric element so that the ice on said cold face is melted and the resulting water is exhausted from said dehumidifier device. 
   
   
       12 . The dehumidifier device of  claim 8 , wherein said alternating cycles of activation and deactivation comprise at least one of the operating modes selected from the group:
 continuous;   periodical; and   programmable.   
   
   
       13 . The dehumidifier device of  claim 12  wherein said programmable operating mode is a function provided by a humidity/relative humidity sensor. 
   
   
       14 . The dehumidifier device of  claim 1  further comprising a second hose which returns outside air to said sealed enclosure in the same quantity as water pumped out therefrom to eliminate getting an under-pressure inside said sealed enclosure due to the operation of said pump unit. 
   
   
       15 . A dehumidifier system for removing condensed moisture from humidity out of a sealed enclosure comprising:
 a controller for operating said system;   a condenser unit, having a thermoelectric element in close proximity to a moisture collector; and   a sealed pump unit comprising:
 a pump mounted in a housing, and 
 a hose for directing moisture external to said sealed enclosure, 
   
     wherein when said controller operates said condenser unit in conjunction with said sealed pump unit, moisture is collected and pumped through said hose external to said sealed enclosure. 
   
   
       16 . A method for dehumidifying air and removing moisture from a sealed enclosure, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a condenser unit having a thermoelectric element in close proximity to a moisture collector;   providing a sealed pump unit comprising:
 a pump mounted in a housing, and 
 a hose for directing moisture external to said sealed enclosure, 
   providing a controller in communication with said condenser unit and said pump unit,   
     wherein when said controller is activated, said condenser unit extracts moisture from said sealed enclosure and said pump pumps said moisture external to said sealed enclosure via said hose. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the steps of:
 connecting said controller to said thermoelectric element and said sealed pump unit so as to provide alternating cycles of activation and deactivation of said thermoelectric element and said sealed pump unit to produce a Peltier effect, alternatively heating and cooling said condenser unit;   orienting said condenser unit so as provide a cold face directly exposed to air flow when alternatively cooled by said Peltier effect;   cooling said cold face to a temperature less than zero degrees Celsius so that moisture contacting said cold face immediately turns into ice; and   heating said cold face periodically by changing the polarity of the Peltier effect applied to said thermoelectric element so that the ice on said cold face is melted and the resulting water is exhausted from said dehumidifier device.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said controller alternately activates said thermoelectric element and said pump in at least one of the modes selected from the group:
 continuous;   periodical; and   programmable.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said programmable operating mode is a function provided by a humidity/relative humidity sensor. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 vaporizing condensed water exiting said sealed enclosure; and   promoting rapid circulation of the air and removal of moisture in large-volume enclosures.