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Improved Thermoregulation Of Brain Temperature Using Phase Change Material-Mediated Head Cooling System

Rakkimuthu, Sathyaprabha
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3449-4152
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1613750048541054

Abstract Details

2020, MS, University of Cincinnati, Engineering and Applied Science: Mechanical Engineering.
Regulation of brain temperature is critical for managing heat stress-related adverse events. It can be achieved by external cooling of the head. Head cooling systems that are lightweight, portable, and suitable for active work scenarios, such as firefighting, mining, and construction work, are currently unavailable on the market. This study proposes a novel active head cooling system that a) uses phase change material for thermal storage and b) can be designed for portability. The closed-loop bench-top system consists of two heat exchangers: a water-cooled heat exchanger with an attached heater, mimicking heat generated from the head, and a helical tube heat exchanger surrounded with ice as a heat sink. These heat exchanges are interconnected by tubing for water circulation. The system performance is assessed by the cooling duration that depends on the mass of ice used and the heat transfer rate. The system was evaluated for different heat loads varying from rest to exercise condition (20 W – 40 W) and flowrates (0.25 l/min – 0.65 l/min). The results show that the system can handle a heat generation rate of 40 W from the head for 100 min (for the flowrate of 0.25 l/min), which is about 3 times the safe duration of firefighting drills. The cooling time increases linearly with decreasing heat load: 138 min for 30 W and 190 min for 20 W, an increase of 38%, and 90%, respectively. It also increases with a decreasing flow rate. The range of Nusselt number for helical coil flow is about 4.4 – 6.8 times higher when compared to that of a straight pipe flow. The helical design of the heat exchanger leads to enhanced heat transfer owing to the formation of Dean’s vortical flow. The results suggest that the head cooling system, having possible features of being portable, cost-effective, lightweight, and easy to use, can assist in the thermoregulation of brain temperature for workers during elevated thermal stress conditions.
Rupak Banerjee, Ph.D (Committee Chair)
Marwan Al-Rjoub, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Je-Hyeong Bahk, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Amit Bhattacharya, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Michael Kazmierczak, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
57 p.
Mechanical Engineering
personal cooling system; portable active head cooling; thermal stress; firefighters; helical coil heat exchanger; phase change heat transfer

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Rakkimuthu, S. (2020). Improved Thermoregulation Of Brain Temperature Using Phase Change Material-Mediated Head Cooling System [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1613750048541054

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Rakkimuthu, Sathyaprabha. Improved Thermoregulation Of Brain Temperature Using Phase Change Material-Mediated Head Cooling System. 2020. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1613750048541054.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Rakkimuthu, Sathyaprabha. "Improved Thermoregulation Of Brain Temperature Using Phase Change Material-Mediated Head Cooling System." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1613750048541054

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1613750048541054
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.