Humidity control of an electrical device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for dehumidifying and control of humidity inside an enclosure comprising electrical equipment. The device comprises a heating element located to be in contact with the ambient air of the exterior of the enclosure and a cooling element located to be in contact with the ambient air of the interior of the enclosure. Dew condensed at the cooling element is guided to the heating element so that humidity from the air, condensed at the cooling element, may be transported to the heating element to be vaporised wherein the water guiding means comprises a capillary structure. In still another aspect of the invention, the functionality of the heating and cooling elements may be switched so as to reverse the flow of water and provide a humidity control arrangement.

1 . A dehumidifier for an enclosure comprising electrical equipment, said dehumidifier comprising a heating element and a cooling element, said cooling element located to be in contact with the ambient air of the interior of the enclosure and said heating element located to be in contact with the ambient air of the exterior of the enclosure, said dehumidifier further provided with water guiding means which guides dew condensed at the cooling element to the heating element so that humidity from the air, condensed at the cooling element, may be transported to the heating element to be vaporised wherein the water guiding means comprises a capillary structure. 
     
     
         2 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 1  wherein the capillary structure is in contact with the heating element and adapted to guide water condensed at the cooling element to the heating element. 
     
     
         3 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 2  wherein a first part of said capillary structure covers at least a part of the surface of said heating element so as to vaporise condensed dew at the hot side and a second part of said capillary structure covers at least a part of the surface of the cooling element so as to absorb dew condensed at the cold side, said first and second parts of the capillary structure are connected to each other by water guiding means. 
     
     
         4 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 3  wherein the water guiding means connecting the first part and the second part of the capillary structure comprises a third part of the capillary structure. 
     
     
         5 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 2  wherein said heating element and said cooling element is formed as one entity having a first surface and a second surface, said heating element located at the first surface and said cooling element located at the second surface. 
     
     
         6 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 5  wherein said entity comprises a peltier element. 
     
     
         7 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 4  wherein said first surface and said second surface of said heating and cooling entity are located opposite to each other and said third part of the capillary structure is located at the outer side of the entity so as to guide water between the first part and the second part of the capillary structure. 
     
     
         8 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 4  wherein one or several holes are provided in said cooling and heating entity connecting said first surface and said second surface of said cooling and heating entity and said third part of the capillary structure is located in said at least one hole so as to guide water between the first part and the second part of the capillary structure. 
     
     
         9 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 5  wherein one or several holes are provided in said cooling and heating entity connecting said first surface and said second surface of said cooling and heating entity, said holes being provided with a capillary structure in such a way the capillary structure is in contact with the heating element and the cooling element so as to form one or several capillary columns for wicking of condensed water from the cold side to the warm side to be vaporised 
     
     
         10 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 2  wherein said heating element and said cooling element are mounted in or adjacent to an outer wall of the enclosure. 
     
     
         11 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 1  wherein said heating element and said cooling element are mounted inside the enclosure whereby said heating element is connected to the outside of the enclosure via an air vent duct. 
     
     
         12 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 2  wherein the functionality of the heating element and the cooling element are switched so that the dehumidification process is altered to provide a humidification process. 
     
     
         13 . A humidity control process for an enclosure comprising electrical equipment, said humidity control process comprising the steps of:
 providing a cooling element located to be in contact with the ambient air of the interior of the enclosure so as to condense moisture from the ambient air   providing a heating element located to be in contact with the ambient air of the exterior of the enclosure   providing water guiding means which guides dew condensed at the cooling element to the heating element   
       whereby moisture condensed at the cooling element will be guided to the heating element to be vaporised at the heating element so as to dehumidify the air of the interior of the enclosure wherein the condensed water during at least a part of its transport from the cooling element to the heating element is transported by means of capillary forces. 
     
     
         14 . A humidity control process according to  claim 13  wherein the functionality of the heating element and the cooling element may be switched so that the flow of water may be reversed so as to humidify the air of the interior of the enclosure.