Insulated Containers for Bottled Water (ICB)-Performance Evaluation
Abstract
This report describes an evaluation of the thermal performance, blast durability, operational durability, and flammability of four insulated containers for bottled water (ICB) recently developed by the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC). This testing was conducted or contracted by NSRDEC from July 2013 through January 2014 in support of PM MRAP efforts to reduce unrestrained stowage in vehicles while providing palatable drinking water for mounted Soldiers. The ICBs are lighter, require less storage space, and have more effective tie-down characteristics than coolers often used to carry bottled water in vehicles. The performance of the ICBs and a commonly used cooler was assessed to determine whether the easier-to-stow ICBs would be as effective and durable as the coolers. The four ICBs provide three options in size and capacity and two choices of insulation r-value and cost. Hot ambient temperature tests were conducted to assess thermal performance. Improvised explosive device (IED) simulations were used to assess blast durability. Drop tests, vibration tests, and abrasion tests were conducted to assess operational durability. Flash oil fire tests were conducted to assess flammability. All the ICBs survived the blasts test and the drop test while the cooler did not survive either one. All the containers survived the vibration tests. Though the cooler maintained bottled water under 72 F much longer than the standard insulation ICB of the same capacity and the smaller ICB, the higher R-value (more costly) ICB of similar size maintained the temperature 8 h longer than the cooler, and the largest standard insulation ICB maintained temperature as long as the cooler when filled with water bottles and 6 h longer with a 5-gal water bag.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 21, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1033235
Entities
People
- Ben S. Williams
Organizations
- United States Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center