Body Armor Suite Cooling System

Abstract

A body cooling system is provided for utilization with a protective suit worn by a person. The cooling system includes an external air flow source that produces an air flow and blows it in free atmosphere towards an evaporative cooling apparatus. A fluid volume flows from the cooling apparatus to a conduit contained in an undersuit worn under the protective overcoat. A pump circulates fluid through the conduit. The undersuit includes both an envelope, surrounding an outer surface of the conduit, and a cloth layer, situated closest to the skin, to aid in a transfer of heat from a body to the fluid flowing in the conduit. The evaporative cooling apparatus can include a radiator body having finger-like projections extending therefrom. A fluid channel is formed within the evaporative cooling apparatus for egress of the heated fluid carried away from the undersuit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0001]The present invention relates generally to a body suit cooling system. More specifically, it relates to a body suit cooling system having an evaporative cooling system that utilizes a free air approach to remove body heat from a person.[0002]A coolant fluid such as water has an advantage of high volume heat capacity and much higher thermal conductivity compared to air. The heat exchange coefficient for liquid such as water is orders of magnitude higher than for air, resulting in the possibility for compact and energy efficient cooling systems. It is difficult to use the human body's evaporative cooling system when a person is wearing multiple layers of clothing. Thus, the evaporative process should occur outside of the person's body suit and water should be supplied from an outside source. Since it takes only about ten milliwatts of power to provide an air flow in an open space, a free air evaporative system can have improved efficiency.[0003]An exa...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The undersuit includes both a heat conducting envelope, surrounding an outer surface of the conduit, and a heat conducting cloth layer, situated closest to the skin, to aid in a transfer of heat from the wearer's body to the fluid flowing in the conduit. The undersuit preferably includes a copper envelope surrounding the conduit and a copper cloth layer. A thin layer of biologically inert material can be situated between the copper cloth layer and the skin to prevent any irritative and abrasive contact between the copper cloth layer and the skin.

[0012]The present disclosure aims to reduce or minimize a risk of heat stress, i.e., heat stroke, heat exhaustion, cramps, rashes, and dizziness, etc., in workers exposed to extreme heat and arid environments. More specifically, the disclosure minimizes or prevents symptoms of heat stress in workers covered in partial or full body suits, which have a tendency to generally trap perspiration in the area between the suit material and the person's skin.

Problems solved by technology

It is difficult to use the human body's evaporative cooling system when a person is wearing multiple layers of clothing.

If the water pump efficiency is 50 percent, it means that about 1 W of power is lost.

Furthermore, existing cooling systems are formed of a large number of capillary tubes, which collect heat from a large body area.

This results in large power losses due to the viscose friction in small tubes and very complex and expensive tube connections.

In addition to the logistical problems of this approach, the heat of fusion of water is 6.013 kJ / mole.

This liquid-to-vapor phase transition requires an input of energy to overcome molecular forces of attraction between water molecules; this necessary energy input results in a temperature drop at the water's surface.

A problem with existing self-contained evaporative cooling systems is a reliance on a thin gap air approach, i.e., existing systems utilize schemes which direct air flow into a thin gap formed between the person's body to be cooled and the suit the person is wearing.

As a result, this method requires a high consumption of energy.

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