System and method for conditioning air

Abstract

A zero-refrigerant cooling device comprises a device body having an inlet and an outlet, a thermoelectric cooling section positioned at the inlet of the device body comprising at least one thermoelectric cooling module, the thermoelectric cooling module having a hot side and a cold side, the thermoelectric cooling section further comprising a cooling chamber section in which the cold side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling module is positioned, a fan configured to drive air from the cooling chamber section toward the outlet of the device body, and a humidifying section positioned between the fan and the outlet of the device body, the humidifying section comprising an evaporative pad. A method of cooling air is also disclosed.

1 . A zero-refrigerant cooling device, comprising:
 a device body having an inlet and an outlet;   a thermoelectric cooling section positioned at the inlet of the device body comprising at least one thermoelectric cooling module, the thermoelectric cooling module having a hot side and a cold side;   the thermoelectric cooling section further comprising a cooling chamber section in which the cold side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling module is positioned;   a fan configured to drive air from the cooling chamber section toward the outlet of the device body; and   a humidifying section positioned between the fan and the outlet of the device body, the humidifying section comprising an evaporative pad.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric cooling section further comprises:
 at least one hot side heatsink connected to the hot side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling module;   at least one hot side fan connected to the at least one hot side heatsink opposite the hot side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling module;   at least one cold side heatsink connected to the cold side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling module; and   at least one cold side fan connected to the at least one cold side heatsink opposite the cold side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling module.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , the thermoelectric cooling section further comprising a first insulating barrier fixedly attached to the at least one thermoelectric cooling module and configured to thermally isolate the hot side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling module from the cold side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling module. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one thermoelectric cooling module is a Peltier module. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one spray nozzle positioned on the hot side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling module, configured to spray water on at least one of the hot side heatsink or the hot side fan. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein a surface of the device body fluidly connected to the hot side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling module comprises a phase change material positioned on the surface of the device body. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling chamber section further comprises a chamber defined by the device body, the first insulating barrier, and a second insulating barrier positioned opposite the first insulating barrier; and
 wherein the second insulating barrier comprises an aperture facing the fan, wherein the fan is configured to draw air from the aperture.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the aperture is a 5 cm square. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the humidifying section further comprises:
 a reservoir positioned beneath the evaporative pad;   a tube having a first end positioned at a top end of the evaporative pad; and   a water pump having an inlet in the reservoir, and having an outlet connected to a second end of the tube, configured to pump a liquid from the reservoir to the top end of the evaporative pad via the tube.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the evaporative pad comprises a curvilinear shape including at least one ventilation void, at least one protrusion configured for temporary liquid storage, and at least one smooth pathway configured to enhance liquid distribution. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the evaporative pad comprises terracotta. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the tube is positioned over at least a portion of a top surface of the evaporative pad, and wherein the tube comprises one or more apertures along a length of the tube configured to deposit water on the top surface of the evaporative pad. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is an indoor cooling unit. 
     
     
         14 . A zero-refrigerant cooling method, comprising:
 providing the device as described in  claim 1 ;   cooling room temperature air to a first temperature via thermoelectric cooling;   storing the first temperature air in the cooling chamber;   releasing the first temperature air from the cooling chamber;   accelerating the released air via the high-speed fan to a first velocity to further cool the air to a second temperature;   passing the air at the second temperature through the biomimetic evaporative pad to humidify the air and to further cool the air to a third temperature; and   releasing the humidified air at the third temperature to a room.