Cooling apparatus

Abstract

The invention provides a portable cooling vented apparatus, comprising:an array made of one or more thermoelectric cooler(s), each thermoelectric cooler (TEC) having a cold side and a hot side, the cumulative cold sides and the cumulative hot sides of all the thermoelectric cooler(s) define cold and hot sides of the array, respectively;one or more heatsinks at the hot side of the array; andat least one reservoir configured to supply liquid to the heatsink(s) with the aid of one or more liquid channel(s) connected to said reservoir and installed in the interior of the cooling apparatus in proximity to said heatsink(s); wherein the apparatus is open to the surroundings and is characterized in that the one or more liquid channels is (are) in the form of a narrow piece of wettable material in fluid communication with, or emerging from, the liquid reservoir and in contact with the heatsink.

1 . A portable cooling vented apparatus, comprising:
 an array made of one or more thermoelectric cooler(s), each thermoelectric cooler (TEC) having a cold side and a hot side, the cumulative cold sides and the cumulative hot sides of all the thermoelectric cooler(s) define cold and hot sides of the array, respectively;   one or more heatsinks at the hot side of the array; and   at least one reservoir configured to supply liquid to the heatsink(s) with the aid of one or more liquid channel(s) connected to said reservoir and installed in the interior of the cooling apparatus in proximity to said heatsink(s);   wherein the apparatus is open to the surroundings and is characterized in that the one or more liquid channels is (are) in the form of a narrow piece of wettable material in fluid communication with, or emerging from, the liquid reservoir and in contact with the heatsink.   
     
     
         2 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid channel has one end that is immersed in a liquid tank, to enable liquid flow along the channel by capillary action. 
     
     
         3 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , er  2 , wherein the liquid channel has a serpentine-like shape, curving in alternate directions on the heatsink. 
     
     
         4 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the liquid tank is placed beneath the heatsink(s) and is adjacent to, or contiguous with at least one edge of the heatsink(s), with a liquid channel in the form of a long narrow piece of wettable material consisting of a sponge strip or a strip made of a suitable cloth, emerging from the liquid tank and lying on the face of the heatsink, curving in alternate directions on the heatsink in the spaces between the columns of fins protruding from the surface of the heatsink, such that liquid can move along said channel, from one end of the channel that is immersed in the tank, to the opposite end, by capillary action, whereby the serpentine-like liquid channel touches and wets the fins directly. 
     
     
         5 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising a liquid tank mounted above an array of TECs assembled in one or more columns and one or more tubes to supply liquid coolant from said tank to the surface of the heatsink(s), characterized in that each tube is provided with a contraction located atop of a column of TECs; with a bundle of strips made of wettable material in contact with each other, and tightly fixed in place in the interior of the contraction, extending downward from the exit of the contraction and laid out on the face of the heatsink(s) in the respective column, touching the surface of the heatsink(s) and fins protruding from the surface. 
     
     
         6 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the one or more tubes is connected to a tapered section creating a vertical contraction, such that the ratio of between the cross-section areas of the inlet and outlet openings of said tapered section is in the range from 3 to 10. 
     
     
         7 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising one or more check valves between the liquid tank and the heatsink(s), to supply liquid coolant to the heatsinks in a controlled manner. 
     
     
         8 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 5 , comprising a funnel-shaped contraction with a rectangular cross-section, with a small movable plate attached to an inner wall of the narrow pipe of the contraction, such that the cross section of the narrow pipe can be adjusted by the movement of a screw that pushes the small plate, to tightly compress the strips inside the narrow pipe. 
     
     
         9 . A cooling apparatus according  claim 8 , wherein the funnel-shaped contraction contains a gasket to prevent water leakage, the gasket covering the entire inner wall where the small plate is located, and the plate itself. 
     
     
         10 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 5 , comprising a single tube directed downward from the liquid tank, wherein the flow through said tube is regulated by a valve, said tube diverging into secondary tubes, each secondary tube joining a funnel-shaped element placed a top of a column of TEC, said funnel-shaped element creating a vertical contraction. 
     
     
         11 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising one or more fans to facilitate evaporation and heat dissipation to the surrounding. 
     
     
         12 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising one or more pumps for pushing the liquid coolant from the tank to the contraction(s). 
     
     
         13 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein a flow of liquid coolant from the tank to the heatsinks is a combination of:
 at least one of gravitational and pressure driven flow; and   a capillary flow.   
     
     
         14 . A cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the hot side is at least partially uncovered or covered with a gas-permeable cover, such that when vapors are formed in the hot side, these vapors escape to the surroundings. 
     
     
         15 . A portable cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , combined with a garment, or for use within a cooling box, a chair cushion, a helmet, or a bike handle. 
     
     
         16 . A method of cooling using a thermoelectric cooler, comprising passing an electric current through the thermoelectric cooler from a DC source, to create a cold side and a hot side, drawing off heat from the hot side with the aid of one or more heatsink(s) coupled to the hot side, characterized in that liquid coolant is delivered to the heatsink(s) whereby said liquid evaporates and vapors formed escape to the surrounding environment, wherein the liquid coolant is delivered to the heatsinks by causing liquid to flow from a liquid tank by capillary action, or a combination of capillary flow and at least one of gravitational and pressure driven flow. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the liquid coolant is delivered to the heatsinks by causing liquid to flow from a liquid tank by a combination of capillary flow and at least one of gravitational and pressure driven flow. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , comprising causing the liquid coolant to flow from a liquid tank to a vertical contraction by gravity or with the aid of a pump, to wet a bundle of strips made of wettable material that are in contact with each other, and that are tightly fixed in place in the interior of the contraction and extend downward from the exit of the contraction and laid out on the face of the heatsink(s), touching the surface of the heatsink(s) and fins protruding from the surface.