Insulating Barriers for Softwall Shelters

Softwall shelter systems are unable to maintain comfortable interior working and living conditions when used at locations with extreme environments and possess poor energy efficiency through high fuel consumption. LGarde, Inc. is currently developing a thermal insulation system for softwall shelters to address the need to increase energy efficiency and reduce fuel consumption in the military. LGardes insulation system is based on Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) panels that can be easily fabricated from commercially available products and retrofitted into existing shelters. The MLI panels offer high insulation capabilities while still possessing low mass and thickness in the stowed state, high packaging ratio, and performance in low and high temperature conditions as well as in humid climates. During Phase I, the feasibility of the insulation system will be demonstrated through both analytical methods and experiments. In Phase II, we will develop a prototype of the softwall shelter integrated with the LGardes insulation system for further evaluation through field testing in relevant environments, as well as refine and optimize the manufacturing process to fabricate the insulation. In Phase III, efforts will focus on transitioning the technology for Marine Corps use.