Heating System for Free-Swimming Diver

Deep submersion operations performed by free-swimming divers often expose them to extreme cold conditions. This condition can induce cold stress which in turn impairs diver performance, shortens dive duration and creates an unnecessary health risk to divers. An appropriate heating solution must be low profile, small volume, power efficient, resistant to corrosive saltwater and operate for the duration of a typical Navy dive. Rini Technologies, Inc. (RTI) proposes to develop a Free Diver Heating System (FDHS) that will utilize miniature heat pump cycle technology. Through support from the Army Natick Soldier Center, NASA/JSC and DARPA, RTI has developed a Micro Climate Heat Pump System that can operate as a chiller or heater, which in turn regulates water temperature circulating through a diver’s tube suit. The proposed heating unit will operate in water as low as 10oC and provide 300W of heat to the diver with 40oC warm water, while consuming less than 125W of electrical power. The proposed effort will also develop and demonstrate the technology required for Deck Mounted Cooling System (DMCS), which can be utilized by standby divers on the surface.