A personal conditioning system based on a liquid-conditioned vest and a thermoelectric supply system.

Abstract

A personal conditioning system has been developed for RAF air crew. It employs a liquid-conditioned vest covering the torso and upper arms. The liquid supply system uses thermoelectric elements to provide either heating or cooling. The system has been subjected to a number of environmental tests. It has been shown to be capable of extracting 150 W from a human subject in an ambient temperature of 40^°C and at altitudes of 10000 feet. Further physiological tests have shown that this is sufficient to control body temperature in environments where heat stress would otherwise have occurred. A series of instrumented flights has been carried out in a fighter aircraft. The system has performed successfully and is under consideration for use in future aircraft.

Keywords:

• Clothing
• Temperature
• Life support systems
• Biomedical engineering