Evaluation of a carbon dioxide personal cooling device for workers in hot environments

Design and evaluation of multifunctional protective clothing for tunnel workers

By examining the requirements of tunnel workers, a multifunctional tunnel protective clothing was proposed in this study. The traditional tunnel protective clothing was redesigned from the perspective of improving clothing structure and fabric. A safe and protective clothing system, incorporating a harmful gas detection module, position monitoring module and data transmission module, was developed. Objective evaluation tests were carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed protective clothing. During the medium-intensity exercise phase, the average skin temperature and humidity of the participants who wore the new protective clothing were 1.0725 °C and 2.6% lower, respectively, than those who wore the conventional protective clothing (P<0.05). Furthermore, the new protective clothing system exhibited a highly sensitive and complete feedback mechanism. The positioning error could be controlled within ±10 cm, when the horizontal spacing distance of the base station was set to 200 m.

Advanced Functional Materials for Intelligent Thermoregulation in Personal Protective Equipment

The exposure to extreme temperatures in workplaces involves physical hazards for workers. A poorly acclimated worker may have lower performance and vigilance and therefore may be more exposed to accidents and injuries. Due to the incompatibility of the existing standards implemented in some workplaces and the lack of thermoregulation in many types of protective equipment that are commonly fabricated using various types of polymeric materials, thermal stress remains one of the most frequent physical hazards in many work sectors. However, many of these problems can be overcome with the use of smart textile technologies that enable intelligent thermoregulation in personal protective equipment. Being based on conductive and functional polymeric materials, smart textiles can detect many external stimuli and react to them. Interconnected sensors and actuators that interact and react to existing risks can provide the wearer with increased safety, protection, and comfort. Thus, the skills of smart protective equipment can contribute to the reduction of errors and the number and severity of accidents in the workplace and thus promote improved performance, efficiency, and productivity. This review provides an overview and opinions of authors on the current state of knowledge on these types of technologies by reviewing and discussing the state of the art of commercially available systems and the advances made in previous research works.

The effect of cooling vests on physiological and perceptual responses: a systematic review

Humans in hot environments are exposed to health risks and thermal discomfort which seriously affect their physical, physiological and mental workload. This study aimed to assess the effects of using cooling vests (CVs) on physiological and perceptual responses in the workplace. Three main databases were searched using subject headings and appropriate Mesh terms. The article has been written according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews checklist. A total of 23,837 studies were identified for screening and 63 studies were eligible for data extraction. A statistically significant difference was observed in body temperature among hybrid cooling garments (HBCGs), phase-change materials (PCMs) and air-cooled garments (ACGs) at 31.56-37 °C (60% relative humidity), evaporative cooling garments at 25.8-28.1 °C and liquid cooling garments at 35 °C (49% relative humidity) compared to without CVs (p < 0.001). HBCGs (PCMs and ACGs) are effective means in hot, moderate, humid or dry environments.

Design and evaluation of cooling workwear for miners in hot underground mines using PCMs with different temperatures

Cooling workwear using phase change materials (PCMs) was designed for miners in hot underground mines. A new arrangement of PCM packs was introduced that used 15 °C PCMs as the inner layer and 23 °C PCMs as the outer layer (15&23). Its performance was investigated using thermal manikin and human subject tests by comparison with clothing without PCMs (CON), with 15 °C PCMs (15&15) and with melted PCMs (mPCM) in a climate chamber (30 °C, 80% relative humidity). The PCM cooling workwear significantly increased the manikin heat loss, attenuated the rise of skin temperatures and improved thermal sensation and comfort. The cooling duration was extended in 15&23 as compared with 15&15. The added PCMs did not affect the perceptual exertion and body mobility. In summary, cooling workwear using PCMs with different temperatures can be an effective option for miners' personal cooling in a hot and humid environment.

Physiological and perceptual effects of a cooling garment during simulated industrial work in the heat

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate physiological and perceptual responses using a phase change cooling (PCC) garment during simulated work in the heat.

METHODS

Twenty males wearing compression undergarments, coverall suit, gloves, and hard-hat, completed two randomly assigned trials (with PCC inserts or control, CON) of simulated industrial tasks in the heat (34.2 ± 0.05 °C, 54.7 ± 0.3%RH). Trials consisted of two 20 min work bouts, a maximum performance bout, and 10 min of recovery.

RESULTS

Physiological strain index (PSI) was lower during PCC after the second work bout and during recovery (all P < 0.05). PCC reduced heat storage (27.0 ± 7.6 W m^-2) compared to CON (42.7 ± 9.9 W m^-2, P < 0.001). Perceptual strain index (PeSI) was reduced with PCC compared to CON (P < 0.001), however performance outcomes were not different between trials (P = 0.10).

CONCLUSIONS

PCC during work in the heat attenuated thermal, physiological, and perceptual strain. This PCC garment could increase safety and reduce occupational heat illness risk.

Toward Wearable Cooling Devices: Highly Flexible Electrocaloric Ba0.67 Sr0.33 TiO3 Nanowire Arrays

Flexible lead-free ferroelectric ceramic nanowire arrays exhibit a unique combination of features that can contribute to the realization of wearable cooling devices, including an outstanding electrocaloric effect at low fields, high efficiency, bendability and stretchability, and robustness against mechanical deformations. Thermodynamic and phase-field simulations are carried out to validate their superior electrocaloric effect in comparison to thin films.

Reducing heat stress under thermal insulation in protective clothing: microclimate cooling by a 'physiological' method

Heat stress caused by protective clothing limits work time. Performance improvement of a microclimate cooling method that enhances evaporative and to a minor extent convective heat loss was tested. Ten male volunteers in protective overalls completed a work-rest schedule (130 min; treadmill: 3 × 30 min, 3 km/h, 5% incline) with or without an additional air-diffusing garment (climatic chamber: 25°C, 50% RH, 0.2 m/s wind). Heat loss was supported by ventilating the garment with dry air (600 l/min, ≪5% RH, 25°C). Ventilation leads (M ± SD, n = 10, ventilated vs. non-ventilated) to substantial strain reduction (max. HR: 123 ± 12 b/min vs. 149 ± 24 b/min) by thermal relief (max. core temperature: 37.8 ± 0.3°C vs. 38.4 ± 0.4°C, max. mean skin temperature: 34.7 ± 0.8°C vs. 37.1 ± 0.3°C) and offers essential extensions in performance and work time under thermal insulation.

PRACTITIONER SUMMARY

Heat stress caused by protective clothing limits work time. Performance can be improved by a microclimate cooling method that supports evaporative and to a minor extent convective heat loss. Sweat evaporation is the most effective thermoregulatory mechanism for heat dissipation and can be enhanced by insufflating dry air into clothing.

Clothing adjustments for concealed soft body armor during moderate physical exertion

Previous research has studied the impact of Level II concealed soft body armor (SBA) on the augmentation of heat storage in a hot environment simulating a typical summer day in the southeastern United States (wet bulb globe temperature [WBGT] = 30°C) and noted a significant difference between macro- and micro-WBGTs. The purpose of this study was to characterize the microclimate (micro-WBGT) under a concealed Level II SBA during 60 min of moderately intense work at two separate macro-WBGTs (26°C and 30°C), and to establish WBGT corrections to allow prediction of heat strain in an individual wearing a concealed Level II SBA. A single trial was performed with nine volunteers (27 ± 4 years) outfitted with a simulated standard law enforcement uniform and a traditional concealed Level II SBA, in a moderately warm environment (WBGT = 26°C). Each participant performed cycles of 12 min of walking (1.25 L · min(-1)) and 3 min of arm curls (14.3 kg, 0.6 L · min(-1)) with a 5 min rest after every other cycle, for a total of 60 minutes. This trial was compared to an identical previously completed 60-min work bout at 30°C. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA with Post hoc Bonferroni and paired samples t-test analysis was conducted. A greater difference between macro- micro-WBGTs existed at 26°C compared to the 30°C macro-WBGT. Under these conditions, a moderate work in Level II SBA requires a WBGT correction of 8.9°C and 6.2°C at macro-WBGTs of 26°C and 30°C, respectively. A modified simple linear regression prediction model was established for mean Micro-WBGT for each macro-WBGTs after the plateau point at the 30 min mark. The derivation regressions at 26°C (R(2) = 0.99), and 30°C (R(2) = 0.99) indicate that micro-WBGT could be predicted for each 15 minutes time at both macro-WBGTs tested for individuals doing moderate intensity (300 Kcals · hr(-1)) work wearing concealed Level II SBA.

Ambient air cooling for concealed soft body armor in a hot environment

Concealed soft body armor inhibits convective and evaporative heat loss and increases heat storage, especially in hot environments. One option to potentially mitigate heat storage is to promote airflow under the soft body armor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of ambient air induction (∼100 liters per minute) on heat strain while wearing concealed soft body armor in a hot environment (wet bulb globe temperature = 30°C). A counter-balanced, repeated measures protocol was performed with nine healthy male volunteers. Participants were fitted with either a traditional or modified Level II concealed soft body armor. Participants performed cycles of 12 min of walking (1.25 liters per minute) and 3 min of arm curls (0.6 liters per minute) for a total of 60 min. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess the mean differences in physiological measures (rectal temperature, heart rate, micro-environment [temperature and relative humidity]). Post hoc Bonferroni analysis and paired samples t-tests (alpha = 0.01) were conducted on omnibus significant findings. Perceptual measures (perceived exertion, thermal comfort) were analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Tests. Modification led to an improvement in perceived exertion at 45 min (MOD: 10 ± 1; CON: 11 ± 2; p ≤ 0.001) and 60 min (MOD: 10 ± 2; CON: 12 ± 2; p ≤ 0.001) and a reduction in micro-environment temperature in MOD (1.0 ± 0.2°C, p = 0.03) compared to CON. Modification did not attenuate change in rectal temperature or heart rate (p < 0.01) during 60-min work bout. Change in rectal temperature approached significance between MOD and CON at the end of the work bout (MOD: 0.4 ± 0.2°C; CON: 0.7 ± 0.3°C; p = 0.048). The slope of rectal temperature was significantly greater (p = 0.04) under CON compared to MOD. These data suggest that air induction may provide small benefits while wearing concealed soft body armor, though improvements are needed to lessen physiological strain.