Membrane-based portable microclimate cooling systems

该项目建议验证一种新的小气候冷却策略，该策略基于使用膜蒸发技术的水蒸发的大潜热，涉及一种特殊类型的疏水膜，当跨膜压力低于液体进入压力时，不允许液态水穿透其孔。在受控条件下，水的蒸发发生在膜孔内的液-汽界面上，冷却水停留在膜的液体侧，蒸汽逃逸到环境中。因此，薄膜可以为水分蒸发提供表面和控制，这模拟了皮肤在出汗时的功能。他表示，拟议的研究将从广阔的角度促进和支持独特研究活动的发展，这些活动将导致开发技术解决方案，以减少工业中的环境责任，并改善工人的健康和安全。据我们所知，以前还没有研究过受控膜蒸发在小气候冷却系统中的使用。因此，拟议的研究计划将创造重要的新的和创新的研究机会，有助于填补这一研究领域的重大空白。从实践的角度来看，我们的研究计划，在我们的工业合作伙伴Med-Eng Systems Inc.的支持下，最终将导致开发一种具有商业竞争力的便携式小气候冷却系统，用于民用和军用应用。例如，这项技术将有助于改善人员的健康、安全和工作表现，如在炎热环境中工作的人员(如深井矿工)、穿半透或不透防护服的人员(如清理化学品泄漏的工人和士兵以及生物/化学防御人员)和/或穿着重型装甲服装的人员(如士兵在雷区扫雷)。

This project proposes to validate a novel microclimate cooling strategy based on the employment of the large latent heat of water evaporation using membrane evaporation technology, which involves a special category of hydrophobic membranes that do not allow liquid water to penetrate its pores when the trans-membrane pressure is lower than its liquid entry pressure. Under controlled conditions, evaporation of water takes place atthe liquid-vapour interface in membrane pores with cooled water staying on the liquid side of the membrane and vapours escaping into the environment. Membrane can thus provide the surface for and the control of waterevaporation, which mimics the function of skin in sweating.        The proposed research study in a broad perspective will promote and support the development of unique research activities that will lead to the development of technological solutions to reduce environmental liabilities and improve worker health and safety in industry. To our best knowledge, no previous studies have examined the use of controlled membrane evaporation in microclimate cooling systems.  The proposed research program will therefore create significant new and innovative research opportunities that will help to fill a significant gap in this area of study.  From a practical perspective, our study program, with the support of our industrial partner Med-Eng Systems Inc., will ultimately lead to the development of a commercially competitive portable microclimate cooling system for civilian and military applications. For example, this technology will help to improve the health, safety, and work performance of personnel to work in hot environments (e.g. deep mine workers), to wear semi-permeable or impermeable protective clothing (e.g. chemical spilling cleanup workers and soldiers and personnel in bio/chemical defence), and/or to wear heavy armouring clothing (e.g. soldiers demining mine fields).