Compact Personnel Hydration System Cooler For Field Use

The drinking water bladders used by Marines in the field will reach ambient temperatures as high as 125°F in desert environments. For proper hydration, the ideal drinking water temperature is below 71°F; however, in extreme temperatures, water that is sufficiently below body temperature is useful for hydration. It is also recommended that smaller amounts of water be consumed at frequent intervals rather than drinking occasional large volumes. To meet these requirements, a compact personnel hydration system cooler (CPHSC) that can be easily integrated into a Marine hydration pack is needed. Through its Phase I SBIR study, Technology Applications, Inc., has demonstrated the feasibility of a unique CPHSC that is compact, lightweight, quiet, produces no thermal signature, and requires no ground support equipment other than a small rechargeable battery. This cooling system is based upon evaporative cooling, which uses the large latent heat energy of water. Two concepts under development are a continuous-flow system, where water is cooled as it is consumed, and a batch cooling system, where a small quantity of water is cooled prior to drinking. Development of these systems will result in a CPHSC that supplies cool drinking water in sufficient quantity for optimum Marine hydration.