Patent ID: 8365539

Claim:
A method for using a closed thermal cycle to remove a liquid from at least one object comprising moisture, the method comprising: flowing a hot and dry gas, having flowed through a thermoelectric module, over the at least one object thereby producing moist gas at an intermediate temperature; flowing the moist gas at the intermediate temperature through an internal heat exchanger, the moist gas at the intermediate temperature being in heat exchange relationship with cold dry gas flowing through the internal heat exchanger, thereby producing cooled moist gas; flowing the cooled moist gas exiting the internal heat exchanger through a first heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with a cold side of the thermoelectric module, thereby condensing the liquid in the moist gas and producing cold dry gas; flowing the cold dry gas exiting the first heat exchanger through the internal heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with the moist gas at the intermediate temperature, thereby pre-warming the cold dry gas; and flowing the pre-warmed dry gas through a second heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with a hot side of the thermoelectric module, thereby closing the cycle by producing the hot dry gas flowed over the at least one object.