PERSONAL COOLING VEST

PERSONNEL WORKING IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS OR WEARING BALLISTIC AND/OR NUCLEAR/BIOLOGICAL/CHEMICAL (NBC) PROTECTIVE CLOTHING ARE SUBJECT TO THE HAZARDS OF OVERHEATING. THESE HAZARDS INCLUDE PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT, DECREASED PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ABILITIES, DEHYDRATION, AND EVENTUALLY DEATH FROM HEAT STRESS. THE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL VULNERABLE TO THESE HAZARDS IS ALREADY QUITE LARGE AND IS STEADILY INCREASING AS MORE EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON PROTECTIVEEQUIPMENT AND THE ABILITY TO OPERATE UNDER SEVERE CONDITIONS. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A PERSONAL COOLING VEST THAT CAN FUNCTION WITHOUT AN EXTERNAL ENERGY SOURCE. THE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM MUST BE LOW COST, LIGHTWEIGHT, MECHANICALLY SIMPLE, RELIABLE, AND QUITE.