Patent ID: 7937953

Claim:
A thermoelectric heat pump comprising: a thermoelectric array having a cold side in thermal communication with a first air stream and a warm side in thermal communication with a second air stream; and a plurality of water vapor transport membranes connected to said thermoelectric array and in fluid communication with said first and second air streams; wherein said thermoelectric array has a plurality of P-type semiconductors alternating with a plurality of N-type semiconductors, wherein each of said plurality of P-type semiconductors is connected to one of a plurality of first metal elements and one of a plurality of second metal elements opposite to said one of said first metal elements, wherein each of said plurality of N-type semiconductors is connected to one of said plurality of first metal elements and one of said plurality of second metal elements opposite to said one of said plurality of first metal elements, and wherein said plurality of P-type semiconductors and said plurality of N-type semiconductors are connected by being positioned between one of said plurality of first metal elements and one of said plurality of second metal elements; wherein each of said plurality of water vapor transfer membranes is integrated with one of said plurality of first metal elements or said plurality of second metal elements.