Physiological Responses to Exercise-Heat Stress With Prototype Pulsed Microclimate Cooling System; Technical rept

摘要

This study supported the U.S Army Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) effort to develop a lightweight microclimate cooling system (MCCS) for use by dismounted Soldiers. The MCCS evaluated in this study was an early prototype light weight circulating liquid vapor compression MCCS with an integrated skin temperature sensor to trigger on/off cycles The prototype system is based on a USARIEM patent (patent pending) for personalized microclimate cooling that when configured to operate as a skin temperature feedback pulsed cooling (PC) unit should delay heat strain as effectively as constant cooling (CC) during exercise%heat stress while reducing the power requirement by 50% This prototype system could potentially save the U.S Army substantial dollars currently being spent on battery acquisition. Additionally using smaller or fewer batteries would decrease the weight of the system and increase acceptability by dismounted Soldiers This study was designed to evaluate both the prototype MCC system's capability to be controlled by the skin temperature sensor and its ability to sufficiently cool subjects under the given heat stress scenarios.