Patent ID: 7913499

Claim:
A heat exchanger comprising: a duct defining an air passage volume; at least one cold plate mounted within the duct and connected to a source of circulation cooling fluid; a first plurality of water condensing elements clamped in thermal conducting engagement with the at least one cold plate; wherein each of the water condensing elements has a base portion which is clamped directly to the at least one cold plate or to an adjacent base of one of said plurality of water condensing elements; wherein each of the water condensing elements has a condensing portion having two opposed water condensing hydrophilic surfaces which extend into the air passage volume away from the cold plate; wherein the plurality of water condensing elements with clamped bases define a stack of base portions and an array of the condensing portions of the plurality of water condensing elements which extend into the air passage volume away from the cold plate; wherein the plurality of condensing portion are angularly spaced with respect to each other and the least one cold plate; wherein each water condensing portion of each water condensing element, together with either of the at least one cold plate or an adjacent condensing portion of one of said plurality of water condensing elements defines a capillary space where said water condensing elements engage either the cold plate or said adjacent one of said plurality of water condensing elements, the plurality of water condensing elements and the at least one cold plate thus defining a plurality of capillary spaces; wherein each capillary space of the plurality of capillary spaces is in condensate communicating relation with every other capillary space of first plurality of water condensing elements; a condensate drain in communication with said plurality of capillary spaces; and a pump connected to draw water from said plurality of capillary spaces.