Portable Air Cooling System

Abstract

A portable air cooling system having a housing having an air inlet, an air outlet, an exterior surface and an interior cavity. A fan is axially disposed within the interior cavity for generating an air flow drawn from the air inlet, through the interior cavity and discharged through the air outlet. A photovoltaic panel is electrically coupled to the fan and provides sufficient electrical generating capacity to at least power the fan during daylight hours. A hydrating element is disposed intermediate the air inlet and air outlet for providing evaporative cooling. A cooling element is disposed intermediate the air inlet and air outlet and provides convective cooling by thermal transfer with a cold active cooling media such as water ice, dry ice or Gel Pack.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A portable air cooling system comprising:
 a housing having an air inlet, an air outlet, an exterior surface and an interior cavity;   a fan axially disposed within the interior cavity for generating an air flow drawn from the air inlet, through the interior cavity and discharged through the air outlet;   a photovoltaic panel electrically coupled to the fan having sufficient electrical generating capacity to at least power the fan during daylight hours;   a cooling element disposed intermediate the air inlet and air outlet and aligned such that the air flow intersects the cooling element broadside.   
     
     
         2 . The portable air cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the housing further comprises thermal insulation intermediate a wall of the interior cavity and exterior surface. 
     
     
         3 . The portable air cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the cooling element includes ice. 
     
     
         4 . The portable air cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the cooling element includes a refrigerant gel. 
     
     
         5 . The portable air cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the cooling element includes a combination of ice and a refrigerant gel. 
     
     
         6 . The portable air cooling system of  claim 4  wherein the refrigerant gel consists of hydroxyethyl cellulose or vinyl coated silica gel. 
     
     
         7 . The portable air cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the housing has coupled thereto an adjustable geometry mount for positioning of the photovoltaic panel. 
     
     
         8 . A portable air cooling system comprising:
 a housing having an air inlet, an air outlet, an exterior surface and an interior cavity;   a fan axially disposed within the interior cavity for generating an air flow drawn from the air inlet, through the interior cavity and discharged through the air outlet;   a photovoltaic panel electrically coupled to the fan having sufficient electrical generating capacity to at least power the fan during daylight hours;   a hydrating element disposed intermediate the air inlet and air outlet for removing latent heat from the air flow by evaporation;   a cooling element disposed intermediate the air inlet and air outlet for removing latent heat from the air flow by convection;   wherein the air flow intersects at least the hydrating element broadside.   
     
     
         9 . The portable air cooling system of  claim 8  wherein the hydrating and cooling elements are combined into a single element. 
     
     
         10 . The portable air cooling system of  claim 9  wherein an active medium of the single element is ice. 
     
     
         11 . The portable air cooling system of  claim 10  wherein the ice is maintained in a mesh container which allows the air flow therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . The portable air cooling system of  claim 8  wherein the cooling element is disposed in a spaced series relationship with the hydrating element. 
     
     
         13 . The portable air cooling system of  claim 8  wherein the cooling element is disposed downstream from the hydrating element relative to the air flow. 
     
     
         14 . The portable air cooling system of  claim 8  wherein the photovoltaic panel is pivotally attached to the housing. 
     
     
         15 . A portable air cooling system comprising:
 a housing having an air inlet, an air outlet, an exterior surface and an interior cavity;   a fan axially disposed within the interior cavity for generating an air flow drawn from the air inlet, through the interior cavity and discharged through the air outlet;   a photovoltaic panel electrically coupled to the fan having sufficient electrical generating capacity to at least power the fan during daylight hours;   a hydrating element disposed intermediate the air inlet and air outlet for removing latent heat from the air flow by evaporation;   a cooling element disposed intermediate the air inlet and air outlet for removing latent heat from the air flow by convection;   wherein the hydrating element and cooling element are disposed in a spaced series relationship within the housing.   
     
     
         16 . The portable air cooling system of  claim 15  further comprising a desiccating element disposed intermediate the air inlet and the hydrating element. 
     
     
         17 . The portable air cooling system of  claim 15  further comprising a particulate filter element disposed intermediate the air inlet and the hydrating element. 
     
     
         18 . The portable air cooling system of  claim 15  wherein the hydrating element and cooling element are disposed in separate compartments within the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The portable air cooling system of  claim 15  wherein the cooling element comprises at least one gel pack. 
     
     
         20 . The portable air cooling system of  claim 15  wherein the housing further comprises a flexible exhaust duct coupled to the air outlet.