Membrane-based portable microclimate cooling systems

本项目提出利用膜蒸发技术验证一种基于水蒸发大潜热的新型微气候冷却策略，该策略涉及一类特殊的疏水膜，当跨膜压力低于液体进入压力时，不允许液态水穿透其孔隙。在受控条件下，水的蒸发发生在膜孔的液-气界面处，冷却水停留在膜的液侧，蒸汽逸入环境中。因此，膜可以提供表面和控制水分蒸发，模仿皮肤出汗的功能。拟议的广泛研究将促进和支持开展独特的研究活动，这些活动将导致制定技术解决办法，以减少环境责任并改善工业中工人的健康和安全。据我们所知，以前没有研究检查了在微气候冷却系统中使用控制膜蒸发。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，这将有助于填补这一研究领域的重大空白。从实际的角度来看，我们的研究项目，在我们的工业合作伙伴Med-Eng Systems Inc.的支持下，最终将开发出具有商业竞争力的民用和军用便携式微气候冷却系统。例如，这项技术将有助于改善在炎热环境中工作的人员（例如深部矿井工人）的健康、安全和工作绩效，穿着半透性或不透性防护服（例如化学溢出清理工人和生物/化学防御中的士兵和人员），和/或穿着重型装甲服（例如在雷区排雷的士兵）。

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).