Device and method for drying an air stream

Abstract

A device for dehumidifying an air stream includes at least one first module including at least one Peltier element and at least one second module including at least one Peltier element. The entirety of the first module forms a first zone for cooling the air stream. The entirety of the second module forms a second zone for dehumidifying the air stream. The entirety of the first and the second modules forms an air channel for the air stream. A water discharge channel is disposed below the entirety of the second module and receives water accumulating during the dehumidifying of the air stream in the second zone. At least one sensor for measuring a temperature and/or a moisture of the air stream provides at least one output signal. A control unit including at least one controller controls the Peltier elements based on the at least one output signal of the at least one sensor.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A device for dehumidifying an air stream comprising
 an air channel having an inlet through which the air to be dehumidified is supplied and an outlet through which the dehumidified air is released, the air channel divided into at least two zones,   a plurality of Peltier elements for cooling the air channel,   at least one sensor measuring a temperature and/or humidity of the air flowing in the air channel, and   a control unit comprising at least one first and at least one second controller, the control unit configured to calculate a relevant dew point temperature from the temperature and humidity measured by the at least one sensor, the at least one first controller controlling the Peltier elements of the first zone in such a manner that the air stream at the end of the first zone is cooled to the dew point temperature or to a temperature which is higher than the dew point temperature by a small amount, and the at least one second controller controlling the Peltier elements of the second zone in such a manner that the air stream in the second zone releases moisture in the form of water.   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein a material and/or a surface structure of walls defining the air channel are configured differently in the first zone and in the second zone. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the air channel is divided into at least four zones, wherein the control unit is further configured to control a temperature in the third zone in such a manner that the air stream in the third zone releases moisture in the form of water, and wherein waste heat accumulating in the third zone is supplied to the air stream in the fourth zone. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the air channel is divided into at least four zones, wherein the control unit is further configured to control a temperature in the third zone in such a manner that the air stream in the third zone releases moisture in the form of water, and wherein waste heat accumulating in the third zone is supplied to the air stream in the fourth zone. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein a temperature in the third zone is controlled by means of at least one Peltier element, whose cold side during operation cools the third zone and whose warm side during operation heats the fourth zone. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein a temperature in the third zone is controlled by means of at least one Peltier element, whose cold side during operation cools the third zone and whose warm side during operation heats the fourth zone. 
     
     
         15 . A method for dehumidifying an air stream comprising:
 making the air stream flow through at least a first zone and a second zone of an air channel,   measuring a temperature and/or a humidity of the air stream,   calculating a relevant dew point temperature from the measured temperature and humidity,   cooling the air stream in the first zone by means of Peltier elements to such an extent that a temperature of the air stream at the end of the first zone reaches a value which corresponds to the calculated dew point temperature or is higher than the calculated dew point temperature by a small amount, and   cooling the air stream in the second zone by means of Peltier elements to such an extent that water condenses.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising
 making the air stream flow through a third zone and a fourth zone of the air channel,   cooling the air stream in the third zone by means of Peltier elements to or below a local dew point temperature of the air stream so that water condenses,   heating the air stream in the fourth zone by heat accumulating in the third zone.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said cooling is effected by at least one Peltier element whose cold side cools walls of the air channel forming the third zone and whose warm side heats walls of the air channel forming the fourth zone. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising configuring a material and/or a surface structure of walls defining the air channel differently in the first zone and in the second zone. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising configuring a material and/or a surface structure of walls defining the air channel differently in the first zone and in the second zone. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising configuring a material and/or a surface structure of the walls of the air channel differently in the first zone and in the second zone.