In-wall and on-wall dehumidifier with integrated bi-polar ion generator

Abstract

A dehumidifier, which in some embodiments is a wall-mounted dehumidifier, comprising a cabinet, a compressor, an evaporator coil, a condenser coil, a fan, and a bi-polar ion generator. In some embodiments, the cabinet is configured to be installed between studs in a wall. The evaporator is installed within the cabinet above the compressor. The condenser, which may include two or more layers of microchannel condenser coils, is installed within the cabinet above the evaporator. The fan is installed between the evaporator and a back surface of the cabinet. The fan is configured to generate airflow that flows into the cabinet through the evaporator coil and out of the cabinet through the condenser coil. The airflow flows through the evaporator and condenser coils in order to dehumidify the air, and the bi-polar generator generates ions that purify the air, in part by reducing particles, including microbial particles.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A dehumidifier, comprising:
 a cabinet configured to be installed between studs in or through a wall, or on a wall;   an attachment mechanism for affixing the cabinet between studs in a wall or through a wall, or on a wall, said attachment mechanism comprising:
 said cabinet further forming two or more screw holes at a rear of the cabinet for mounting the dehumidifier to a wall; and/or 
 one or more flanges and/or brackets for attaching the dehumidifier to one or more wall studs; 
   an air diffuser configured to diffuse an airflow from the dehumidifier along a surface of the wall, the air diffuser comprising an inlet, and an outlet above the inlet, a compressor;   an evaporator installed within the cabinet above the compressor;   a condenser installed within the cabinet above the evaporator;   an expansion device; and   a fan installed between the evaporator and a back surface of the cabinet, the fan configured to generate an airflow that flows into the cabinet through the inlet of the air diffuser and out of the cabinet through the outlet of the air diffuser, the airflow flowing through the evaporator and condenser in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow;   a fan outlet diffuser installed above the fan, the fan outlet diffuser comprising a plurality of apertures configured to evenly distribute the airflow to the condenser from the fan, thereby reducing noise caused by the airflow; and   a drain pan installed within the cabinet below the evaporator, the drain pan configured to capture water removed from the airflow by the evaporator.   
     
     
         2 . The dehumidifier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bi-polar ion generator positioned within the cabinet in such a way that it releases positive and negative ions within the air flow, such that the negative and positive ions leave the dehumidifier when air leaves the cabinet through the outlet of the air diffuser.   
     
     
         3 . The dehumidifier of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors for sensing one or more environmental conditions of the ambient air. 
     
     
         4 . The dehumidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism is further configured so that the cabinet is installed with access from only one side of the wall. 
     
     
         5 . The dehumidifier of  claim 1 , further comprising a divider between the inlet and outlet, wherein the divider is configured to prevent the airflow entering the cabinet through the inlet from mixing with the airflow exiting the cabinet from the outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The dehumidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser comprises a plurality of layers of microchannel condenser coils. 
     
     
         7 . The dehumidifier of  claim 6 , wherein an input of a first layer of a plurality of microchannel condenser coils receives a refrigerant flow from an output of a second layer of a plurality of microchannel condenser coils. 
     
     
         8 . The dehumidifier of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of layers of microchannel condenser coils comprises: a first layer of a microchannel condenser coil located so as to receive the airflow after it has passed through the evaporator; and a second layer of a microchannel condenser coil located proximate to the first layer of the microchannel condenser coil, the second layer of the microchannel condenser coil located on a side of the first layer of the microchannel condenser coil so as to receive the airflow after it has passed through the first layer of the microchannel condenser coil. 
     
     
         9 . The dehumidifier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an electronic dehumidifier control unit;   a wireless communication controller in operational communication between the electronic dehumidifier control unit and a wireless communication network; and   a software enabled remote user interface in communication through the wireless communication network in operational communication with and control of the electronic dehumidifier control unit, wherein status monitoring or operational setting control of the dehumidifier is enabled remotely from a dehumidifier installation location.   
     
     
         10 . A network of a plurality of dehumidifiers of  claim 9 , wherein each said electronic dehumidifier unit is in operational communication with the software enabled remote user interface and in wireless communication with other said electronic dehumidifier control units. 
     
     
         11 . The dehumidifier of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a smart home thermostat interface in operational communication with the software enabled remote user interface and adapted to provide a humidity level control function between the thermostat and the electronic dehumidifier control unit.   
     
     
         12 . The dehumidifier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a condensate pump in fluid communication at an intake with the drain pan and in fluid communication at an outlet with a condensate discharge; and   a pump control unit for initiating operation of the condensate pump.   
     
     
         13 . The dehumidifier of  claim 12 , wherein the condensate pump is mounted within the cabinet. 
     
     
         14 . The dehumidifier of  claim 13 , wherein the pump control unit further comprises a water level float interacting with a water level switch to provide a signal to power on the condensate pump at a predetermined water level. 
     
     
         15 . The dehumidifier of  claim 14 , wherein upon receipt of the signal to power on the condensate pump the pump control unit powers on the condensate pump for a present pump run time. 
     
     
         16 . The dehumidifier of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of said plurality of layers of microchannel condenser coils are in fluid communication with a Schrader valve adapted to allow servicing, including recharging with refrigerant. 
     
     
         17 . The dehumidifier of  claim 12 , wherein said pump control unit restarts at a humidity setting that is was set prior to a power outage or disconnection form a power source. 
     
     
         18 . The dehumidifier of  claim 12 , wherein said pump control unit shuts down the dehumidifier upon indication of overheating or failure of the condensate pump to operate. 
     
     
         19 . A dehumidifier, comprising:
 a cabinet configured to be installed over a head of a doorframe in or on a wall;   an air diffuser configured to diffuse an airflow from the dehumidifier along a surface of the wall, the air diffuser comprising an inlet, and an outlet above the inlet,   a compressor;   an evaporator installed within the cabinet;   a condenser installed within the cabinet;   an expansion device installed within the cabinet; and   a fan installed configured to generate an airflow that flows into the cabinet through the inlet of the air diffuser and out of the cabinet through the outlet of the air diffuser, the airflow flowing through the evaporator and condenser in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow; and   a drain configured to capture water removed from the airflow by the evaporator and discharged the water to a drain.   
     
     
         20 . A dehumidifier, comprising:
 a cabinet configured to be installed between studs in a wall, or on a wall;   an air diffuser configured to diffuse an airflow from the dehumidifier along a surface of the wall, the air diffuser comprising an inlet, and an outlet above the inlet, a compressor;   an evaporator installed within the cabinet above the compressor;   a condenser installed within the cabinet above the evaporator;   an expansion device;   a fan installed between the evaporator and a back surface of the cabinet, the fan configured to generate an airflow that flows into the cabinet through the inlet of the air diffuser and out of the cabinet through the outlet of the air diffuser, the airflow flowing through the evaporator and condenser in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow; and   a bi-polar ion generator positioned within the cabinet in such a way that it releases positive and negative ions within the air flow, such that the negative and positive ions leave the dehumidifier when air leaves the cabinet through the outlet of the air diffuser.