Evaluation of Commercial Off-the-Shelf and Government Off-the-Shelf Microclimate Cooling Systems

摘要

Professionals in dire need of body cooling, namely the First Responder community, can currently choose from an extensive variety of commercially available microclimate cooling products incorporating a wide range of technologies. Since not all products will meet the requirements of all users, it is important to understand the characteristics of the systems that are available, prior to making a selection. Currently, no standards exist for validating microclimate cooling systems, so users are forced to rely on vendor claims when purchasing equipment. The goals of this project include searching the commercial market for all current microclimate cooling products, and evaluating a representative cross-section of products for their thermal performance. The information gathered was compiled in a database and a report, and can be provided to Emergency Responders to aid in their equipment- purchasing process.