This invention relates to the field of thermal management systems. More particularly, this invention relates to flexible materials and garments adaptable for heating or cooling objects or persons by thermal conduction.
Heat stress has been a problem for military personnel since armies first operated in hot environments. Greek and Roman soldiers suffered from the heat in addition to the physical burden imposed by the weight of body armor and weapons whenever they fought in the Middle East or Southwest Asia. Today's warrior faces the same problem; a combination of physical workload and lack of cooling diminish the performance of highly trained individuals. For example, during the 1967 war between Israel and Egypt, the Egyptian army sustained over 20,000 heat casualties.
The advent of chemical and biological warfare has created an increased thermal burden by requiring the use of cumbersome or encapsulating garments. Military units and First Responders attempting to conduct missions in such garments, particularly in hot environments, often find their physical endurance greatly diminished and cognitive functions impaired. Available resources are often overtaxed by demands on logistic support for such things as excess potable and cooling water, and the increased numbers of personnel that are needed to accommodate extended rest periods that are required by exhausted personnel.
Similar problems exist in the civilian sector. For example, foundry workers, chemical plant operators, and warehouse workers often find themselves limited in their capacity to perform tasks in hot climates. Mining is notorious for placing sometimes life-threatening thermal burdens on deep shaft miners (e.g., South African gold miners). On the other hand, extremely cold environments produce similar difficulties. Divers, winter sportsmen, and persons living in northern latitudes often encounter cold conditions that may induce hypothermia.
Various approaches have been adopted to reduce heat and cold stress. The simplest approach has typically been to impose well defined work/rest cycles which limit an individual's exposure time and allow for cooling-off (or warming-up) rest periods. This is often successful in minimizing fatigue and illness but severely constrains productivity and may threaten successful task performance if manpower is limited. Passive cooling systems have sometimes been employed to mitigate heat and cold stress. Passive cooling systems, such as water-soaked clothing items or ice vests are a comparatively low cost approach but provided only a limited amount of cooling. Passive heating systems such as extra layers of clothing are also comparatively low cost, but they loose their effectiveness if they become moist with perspiration, and can in fact induce hypothermia if the temperature drops.
There are many further needs for efficiently heating and cooling materials and objects such as electronic components, car seats, plants, and animals that are often inadequately addressed by present techniques. What are needed therefore are improved systems and garments for providing thermal management of persons and objects in very hot and very cold environments.
The present invention provides various embodiments for a flexible sheet-like thermally conductive structure that includes a plurality of thermally conductive yarns, where at least some of the yarns are at least partially disposed adjacent to an elastomeric material. Another embodiment provides a thermal management garment that incorporates a flexible sheet-like thermally conductive structure that has a plurality of thermally conductive yarns. At least some of the yarns are at least partially disposed adjacent an elastomeric material.
Various advantages are apparent by reference to the detailed description in conjunction with the figures, wherein elements are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and within which are shown by way of illustration the practice of specific embodiments of a flexible thermally conductive structure and embodiments of a thermal management garment. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and that structural changes may be made and processes may vary in other embodiments.
In one embodiment a graphite fiber woven fabric is employed to act as a passive heat spreader. While graphite fibers are good thermal conductors they are generally quite fragile. Graphite fibers are also very prickly and generally cannot be used next to a person's skin because they are very uncomfortable. To overcome these drawbacks, in various embodiments described herein the fibers are typically formed as yarns and are embedded in a collapsed foam or similar elastomeric material. The foam may be a urethane foam or a silicone foam. A low density foam may be formed adjacent or around the yarns and then worked with a doktor blade to at least partially collapse the foam. This configuration protects the graphite fibers from damage without adding a significant insulation layer. The materials form a flexible thermally conductive structure that may be fabricated into a garment, such as a shirt or a vest. As used herein, the term “flexible” refers to a material that can be manually warped without using tools and the material may be warped without breaking. The elastomeric material provides protection from skin irritation from the graphite fibers. The thermal conductivity of the graphite fibers re-distributes heat uniformly, thereby relieving distress from hot or cold spots. A heat source or heat sink that is thermally engaged with the graphite fibers may be added to provide heating or cooling of the person wearing the garment. As used herein, the term “thermally engaged with” (or variations thereof such as “in thermal engagement with”) refers to an arrangement of the recited elements that permits heat transfer between two elements either by direct attachment of the elements together or by connection of the recited elements through one or more intervening elements.
The thermally conductive yarns 20 may be fabricated from materials that include graphite, metal, or similar thermally-conductive material. Carbon fibers are not thermally conductive, but graphite fibers are thermally conductive. Graphite fibers may be formed by heat treating a precursor fiber (such as a carbon fiber) to a state where a significant amount of graphite is formed in the fiber. Typically the graphite fibers are about 10 microns in diameter whereas the carbon fibers are about 5 microns in diameter. The fibers are typically formed in continuous lengths as 2 K tows (i.e., yarn comprising approximately 2000 fibers). The thermal conductivity of the yarn should be at least approximately 150 W/mK, and it is desirable that the thermal conductivity of the yarn be greater than about 500 W/mK.
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In summary, various embodiments of a flexible thermally conductive structure and embodiments of a thermal management garment are described herein. While emphasis has been placed on applications for heating or cooling human beings, the embodiments may also be used to heat or cool physical objects such as electronic modules, car seats, plants and animals.
The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of have been presented for purposes of illustration and exposition. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the embodiments and their practical application and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
The United States Government has rights to this invention pursuant to contract number DE-AC05-00OR22725 between the United States Department of Energy and UT-Battelle, LLC.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20090049871 A1 | Feb 2009 | US |