Microclimate Cooling : Microclimate Cooling Unit (MCU)
Microclimate Cooling Unit
Compact, lightweight,
design
High efficiency vapor
cycle chiller
Water-glycol based
cooling medium
Mil qualified
Application:
A microclimate cooling system is used to provide personal cooling and mitigate heat stress in individuals subjected
to elevated temperature or wearing thermally restrictive clothing. Carleton's microclimate cooling system is liquid
based (water-glycol mixture as cooling medium) and consists of a vehicle mounted cooling unit, under-garment
cooling vest and interconnecting umbilical with integral control pod.
The cooling unit includes a chiller and pump to deliver chilled water through the umbilical and into the cooling vest.
The chilled water circulates through a network of parallel tubes in the cooling vest to quickly lower body
temperature even under high workload conditions. An umbilical mounted control pod allows the user to individually
select the amount of cooling desired and provides a short circuit path for warm water during initial startup. Between
the cooling vest and umbilical is a low pull force breakaway connector to facilitate "hands free" emergency egress.
Carleton's microclimate cooling system was designed and qualified as part of the US Army Air Warrior program for
use by helicopter aircrew. The system has successfully completed field testing and is certified for use aboard the
Kiowa Warrior (OH-58), Blackhawk (OH-60) and Chinook (CH-47).
Features:
Carleton's microclimate cooling unit (part number B43020) includes a high efficiency, vapor cycle, chiller to deliver
325 watts of system cooling capacity in ambient temperatures as high as 125 deg F. Physiological tests performed by
the US Army have demonstrated that this system significantly reduces fatigue among NBC equipped aircrew and
allows mission durations to be safely extended by 350%.
The MCU has been designed to accommodate permanent or temporary installation with aircraft interfaces limited to
MS-style power and control electrical connectors and liquid quick disconnects to interface with the interconnecting
umbilical. The system is powered from a 28 VDC supply with maximum steady state power draw of 280 watts. The system has been environmentally qualified to MIL-STD-810 and certified for aircraft use.
