Lightweight and Efficient Cooling System for Special Reaction Teams

Clothing that protects Special Reaction Teams from chemical, biological, and nuclear threats can subject the individuals to heat stress. These hazardous environments require the use of PPE with level “A” protection for several hours, which can diminish the body’s ability to reject heat, leading to symptoms ranging from muscular weakness, dizziness and physical discomfort to more severe, life-threatening conditions such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke. RTI proposes to develop a miniature refrigeration unit, which utilizes a vapor compression cycle with the key component of an innovative rotary compressor, to remove heat from the user. This project will provide a portable cooling unit with a combination of performance, reliability, size and weight that is currently not possible from conventional designs. Specifically, the proposed cooling system will produce 120W of cooling to a water vest with a water temperature of 23°C, weigh 3.5 lb (without battery), have a target volume of 1.0L and require less than 50 W of electrical power. The Phase I successfully demonstrated significant technological improvements to key components, such as the condenser and compressor. The design of the remaining system, testing and integration will be performed in this Phase II effort.