Highly Efficient and Compact Microclimate Cooling System for Encapsulated Personal Protection Ensemble

In this Phase II effort, RTI will develop an Ultra compact and lightweight solider cooling system for the Future Force Warrior program. The development effort proposed here targets newer technology enabled by recent advances in miniaturization technology in order to offer the design of a complete microclimate system, the performance of which cannot be matched simply by using smaller versions of currently available designs. In a Phase I SBIR effort, Rini Technologies Inc (RTI) has demonstrated the feasibility of this Micro-Climate Cooling system. Feasibility has been established both for the thermodynamic cycle as well as for the refrigerant compressor - the key component in the system. Initial tests of the compressor have isolated points of power loss and a plan has been put into place to make further improvements. RTI will optimize each component so as to work together in an efficient and synergistic fashion. The proposed cooling system will produce 120W of cooling to a water vest with an average water temperature of 22 °C, weigh 3.5 lbs, and require 50W of electrical power (where an additional 2.3 lbs of batteries will last 4 hours). Following component optimization and fabrication, the unit will be tested in a "real world" outdoor environment.