Apparatus and process for purifying a liquid by thermoelectric peltier means

An improved liquid purifier for purifying an impure liquid under continuous vapor flow operating conditions comprising

• first thermoelectric module means having a first module heatable surface and a first module coolable surface;
• means for effecting contact of said impure liquid with said first module heatable surface to produce vapor of said liquid;
• transfer means for transferring said vapor to said first module coolable surface to effect heat transfer to said module coolable surface and condense said vapor to said purified liquid;
• and
• means for collecting said purified liquid;
• said first thermoelectric module means being adapted to receive an electric current to activate said first thermoelectric module means to heat said first module heatable surface and cool said first module coolable surface;
• the improvement comprising
• (i) first transfer means for directing a first portion of said vapor adjacent to or onto said first module coolable surface to operably effect heat transfer to said first module coolable surface to produce a first condensed liquid;
• (ii) condensation means comprising a second coolable surface remote from said first module coolable surface for condensing a second portion of said vapor by heat transfer to said second coolable surface to produce a second condensed liquid;
• (iii) second transfer means for operably directing said second portion of said vapor to said condensation means;
• (iv) receiver means for collecting said first and second condensed liquids;
• and wherein said condensation means and said transfer means are such as to enable the balance of latent heat contained in the vapor produced by said first module heatable surface which cannot be pumped from said first module coolable surface through the first thermoelectric module to said first module heatable surface to be operably received by said condensation means in order to maintain the process under continuous vapor flow.

Apparatus for purifying a liquid comprising

• (a) a housing having a first chamber and a second chamber,
• (b) divider means separating the first and second chambers one from the other;
• the divider means comprising a first thermoelectric module having a module heatable surface received within the first chamber and a module coolable surface received within the second chamber,
• (c) means for operably contacting impure liquid with the module heatable surface within the first chamber to produce vapor;
• (d) first transfer means for directing a first portion of the vapor adjacent to or onto the module coolable surface to effect heat transfer to the module coolable surface to produce a first condensed liquid;
• (e) condenser means remote from the module coolable surface comprising a second coolable surface for condensing a second portion of the vapor by heat transfer to produce a second condensed liquid;
• (f) second transfer means for directing the second portion of the vapor to the condenser means;
• (g) collection means for collecting the first and second condensed liquids;
• (h) thermoelectric module adaptation means wherein the first thermoelectric module can operably receive an electric current to heat the module heatable surface and cool the module coolable surface;
• and wherein said condenser means and said transfer means are such as to enable the balance of the latent heat contained in the vapor produced by said module heatable surface which cannot be pumped from said module coolable surface through the first thermoelectric module to said module heated heatable surface to be operably received by said condenser means in order to maintain the process under continuous vapor flow.