TheCoolingVestEvaporativeCooling
AMajorQualifyingProjectReport
SubmittedtotheFaculty ofthe
WORCESTERPOLYTECHNICINSTITUTE
Inpartialfulfillmentoftherequirements foraBachelorofScienceDegree inthefieldsofChemicalEngineeringandMechanicalEngineering By: SophiaD'Angelo WilliamLauwers Date:April30,2009

Approvals: _________________________________________ AnthonyDixon,PrimaryAdvisor __________________________________________ SityaShivkumar,Co‐Advisor
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Abstract
The objective of this project was to investigate the cooling capability of an evaporative cooling vest; specifically, cooling of the torso region was studied. Modifying NatickSoldierSystemsmicroclimatedesign,amicroenvironmentwascreatedbetweenthe skin of the torso region and the outer layer of the cooling vest. This system allowed for environmentalcontrolsandmodifications.Tolowerthetemperatureofthetorso,sweat, absorbed from the human torso into the wicking material of the cooling vest, was evaporated. Theaverageindividualsweatsapproximately1L/hrduringnormalactivity.Itwas determined that less than 1L/hr was necessary to lower the temperature of the torso within the microenvironment. Evaporation was achieved through an airflow blown throughthevestandaroundthetorso.Theairflowwas10cfm.Asthetorsosweats,the sweat was absorbed by the wicking material of the vest and evaporated into the surroundingair.Thiswassimulatedbysaturationofawickingmaterialthatwaswrapped aroundthereplicatorso.Theairpresentinthevest'senvironmentwaslowhumidity(the relative humidity was ~24‐26 %) but higher than the humidity of the pre determined modeled calculations. These conditions were still capable of significant evaporation. To assistevaporation,athermoelectriccoolersystemwasmountedinbetweentwo1060alloy aluminum heat sinks. A blower system and vest channels completed the total apparatus andwasmountedinsideavestcreatedforsoldierspecifications. Using this model, a vest was designed, developed and tested using a mannequin with sweating capabilities. Through modeling and design test experimentation it was determined that this evaporative cooling system is indeed feasible, lowering the body temperatureanaverageof10°Fdegreesfromitsstartingpoint.Otherapplicationsofthe vestwerehypothesizedandspecificationsforalterationsweregiven.

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