Submersible warming device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional body warmers for divers generate bubbles, making it difficult to remain undetectable underwater, and are not suitable for hostile environments where open combustion systems are not tolerated.
Innovation Solution
An electrically powered system with a closed liquid loop that uses a heat exchanger and catalytic member to produce heat without releasing visible bubbles, comprising a fan, pump, batteries, fuel and oxygen storage, and a catalytic member to promote combustion, with a warming conduit and cooling conduit integrated into a wearable garment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional body warmers use open combustion systems to generate heat, then effective body heat is provided, but visible bubbles are generated making the diver detectable
Solution Approach 1:
A liquid intermediary (perfluorocarbon) is introduced between the combustion process and the surrounding water. The liquid absorbs combustion by-products and prevents bubble formation, while allowing heat transfer to the diver through thermal conduction and convection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and composition of the combustion environment by filling the combustion chamber with a pressurized liquid (perfluorocarbon). This liquid medium suppresses bubble formation and allows controlled combustion without visible bubble release to the surface.
2Temperature
If conventional body warmers use open combustion systems, then heat is generated effectively, but the system is unsuitable for hostile environments with corrosive, poisonous or combustible gas mixtures
Solution Approach 1:
The combustion chamber is filled with an inert liquid (perfluorocarbon) that creates a controlled, non-reactive environment. This inert liquid prevents unwanted reactions with corrosive, poisonous or combustible gases in the surrounding environment, allowing safe operation in hostile conditions.
3Power
If a catalytic member is used to promote combustion reaction, then heat production efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catalytic member is designed to be self-regulating, where the combustion process itself maintains the catalyst at its optimal operating temperature. The system uses the heat from combustion to activate and sustain the catalytic reaction without requiring external temperature control mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides effective body heat to submerged divers without generating visible bubbles, suitable for use in cold and hostile environments, maintaining user safety by preventing hypothermia and allowing undetectable operation.
Implementation Method 1
a catalytic member received within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger to promote reaction of the fuel and the oxygen to produce heat and combustion by-products
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger having an interior chamber to receive the stream of fuel and the stream of oxygen
Implementation Method 3
an electrically powered pump having a suction, discharge and a pumping chamber therebetween
Implementation Method 4
the combustion by-products are moved by the fan into the combustion by-product storage member
Implementation Method 5
promote reaction of the fuel and the oxygen to produce heat and combustion by-products
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of a submersible warming garment comprises a closed fluid loop including a warming conduit disposed in thermal communication with a chamber containing a catalyst and a cooling conduit disposed within a wearable garment. A pump moves the fluid through the warming conduit, where heat is gained, to the cooling conduit, where heat is surrendered to a human wearing the garment, and back to the pump. An actuated valve on a container of fuel and an actuated valve on a container of oxygen are controlled using a controller to provide a combustible mixture into the chamber where the mixture reacts in the presence of a catalytic member to generate heat and combustion by-products. The combustion by-products, including carbon dioxide and water, are one of adsorbed and absorbed by a carbon dioxide scrubber and a reusable water storage medium. A fan moves the by-products into the scrubber and water storage medium.