A Smart Temperature-Regulating Garment for Portable, High-Efficiency and Comfortable Cooling

In a conventional liquid cooling garment (LCG), overcooling of the water inlet temperature shortens the working time and worsens thermal comfort. Such problems have not been well solved so far. In this study, we propose a smart cooling garment with a developed temperature regulation system, effectively reducing unnecessary loss of power consumption and hence extending the work duration. Testing on a thermal manikin was conducted to evaluate the performance of temperature-regulating LCG. The results showed that, compared to the conventional LCG, the proposed system achieved the rapid and accurate adjustment of water temperature, improved the working time by more than 37% with the total weight barely increased, and ensured the thermal comfort of the wearers. The developed LCG opens the possibility for the smart control of the temperature, fitting for the user's preferences regarding the working time and thermal comfort sensations.

Experimental Evaluation of Microclimate Cooling Garments Under Controlled Ambient Conditions

A testing chamber was designed to evaluate the performance of microclimate cooling systems, which are used to extend human performance duration in heat stress environments by flowing fluids through flexible tubing in a conforming garment, carrying excess heat away from the wearer. The flexible experimental system accommodates changes in materials and garment design. In this study, one side of a chamber was able to output heat at a rate equivalent with that of human; a second, opposed chamber controls ambient conditions experienced by the garment. Temperature changes in both the interior and exterior sides of the chamber were measured. The cooling garment was tested at different conditions, transient and non-transient styles, with and without flowing fluid, and at various wattage densities (367.3 W/m2 and 576.8 W/m2). The designed testing chamber was validated for proper functionality. It was observed that, having a flowing fluid through the garment was more effective at higher body temperatures (∼45 °C) carrying away the excess amount of heat from the body.

Workplace Heat Exposure Management in Indian Construction Workers Using Cooling Garment

Construction workers are at high risk of heat-related illnesses during summer months in India. The personal cooling garment (PCG) is a microclimate assistive device that provides protection from heat stress. The applicability and efficacy of wearing PCG for the physiological and subjective responses were tested on 29 healthy construction workers at actual field worksites. During the test, the climatic conditions were 103.64 ± 38.3°F dry bulb temperature, 41.2 ± 13.4% relative humidity, and wet bulb globe temperature 91.43 ± 39.92°F. Mean weighted skin temperature was significantly lowered by 38.66 ± 33.98°F when wearing PCG as compared with wearing habitual clothing (HC), 32.36 ± 33.44°F ( p < .05). Mean sweat loss was also significantly lower when wearing PCG: 0.365 ± 0.257 kg as compared with wearing HC: 0.658 ± 0.342 kg ( p < .05). Heart rate, along with back and chest skin temperatures were significantly reduced with wearing PCG. The present study suggests that PCG provides an affordable way of alleviating the discomfort and physiological strain caused by environmental heat exposure.