Protective Vest Active Passive Cooling Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vests worn by security and military personnel trap body heat, leading to discomfort, fatigue, dehydration, and heat stroke in hot climates due to restricted airflow, and existing active cooling solutions are inefficient due to insulating properties and cumbersome designs.
Innovation Solution
A protective vest with active cooling mechanisms incorporating thermoelectric modules, thermal insulation, and blower-assisted ventilation, combined with passive cooling materials like phase change composites and super absorbent polymers in the uniform, to enhance heat dissipation and comfort across various climates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If thermoelectric devices are used for active cooling, then cooling capability is improved, but heat dissipation becomes difficult due to insulating properties of apparel
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent thermoelectric modules distributed across the vest surface, with separate hot and cold junctions. This segmentation allows heat to be dissipated from multiple locations simultaneously, overcoming the insulating barrier of the apparel material by creating localized heat transfer pathways throughout the vest structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal interface materials and heat transfer media are introduced as intermediaries between the thermoelectric devices and the apparel layers. These intermediaries facilitate heat transfer from the hot junctions to the external environment while maintaining the insulating properties of the apparel for cold junctions, thus resolving the contradiction between cooling capability and heat dissipation.
2Temperature
If compressive coolers or thermoelectric devices are used for active cooling, then cooling performance is improved, but device complexity and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple thermoelectric cooling functions are merged into a single integrated vest structure. The cold junctions of multiple modules are thermally coupled to the inner apparel layer, while hot junctions are coupled to the outer layer, creating a unified cooling system that eliminates the need for separate compressive coolers or multiple independent cooling units, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The vest structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical protection, active cooling through thermoelectric modules, passive thermal management through material layers, and heat dissipation pathways. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated cooling equipment, reducing device complexity while maintaining cooling performance.
3Loss of energy
If tubes and pumps are used for forced convection cooling, then heat dissipation is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome appendages
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical pump and tube system is replaced with a passive thermoelectric-based heat transfer system. Heat is moved from the body to the external environment through electrical current in thermoelectric modules and thermal conduction through the vest layers, eliminating the need for mechanical pumping components and complex fluid transport systems, thus improving ease of donning while maintaining heat dissipation capability.
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
The vest system effectively manages temperature through active and passive cooling mechanisms, providing enhanced comfort and performance without the bulk of traditional cooling systems, allowing unimpeded movement and reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
a thermoelectric module (TEM) with a cold junction being mounted on the cold spreader whilst a hot junction is mounted on the hot spreader
Implementation Method 2
a thermal insulation (250) separating the cold spreader from parts associated with the hot junction
Implementation Method 3
air in contact with the parts associated with the hot junction is moved by a blower (270) and exhausted through the vent or plurality of vents
Implementation Method 4
passive cooling materials like phase change composites and super absorbent polymers in the uniform
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3A
Figure 3B~3C
AI summary
The present invention provides a protective vest (100, 100a, 100b, 100c) with a cool spreader (150), hot spreader (160) and active cooling mechanisms (200). The protective vest may be used with a uniform (1000), which incorporates passive cooling mechanisms (2000). Each active cooling mechanisms (200), including a TEM (210), a heat pipe (230), a heat sink (240), an insulator (250) with plenums (260) and a blower (270), is controlled by a micro-controller (280) and an adaptive algorithm (285) in response to three temperature sensors (290, 292, 294). The passive cooling mechanisms (200) include super absorbent polymer (SAP), phase change materials (PCM), phase change composites (PCC) and thermal conductive fibres (1040); when wetted, the SAP, PCM or PCC expands cyclically and gives rise to cyclical regenerative cooling.