Thermal Management Technologies for Low-Temperature Undersea Dive Persistence: a Novel Arctic Diving Suit
Abstract
ABSTRACT:The proposed project aims to develop novel materials that provide (1) ultra-high thermal insulation; and (2) additional means for active electrical energy harvesting from the aqueous environment a typical diver would experience using advanced thermal management technologies (i.e., Asymmetric Chemical Doping). In terms of enhanced thermal insulation, we propose to use graphene oxide based gas barrier coatings that keep the highly-insulating gases trapped inside the neoprene foam. This will prevent the ???discharging??? of noble gases inside the neoprene and increase the longevity of noble gas treated thermal insulating diving suits. Other less expensive gases are also proposed to be used to replace the noble gases, such as carbon dioxide and chloroflurocarbons. As a complement to the aforementioned strategy of improving the insulating properties of neoprene itself, it is also possible to gain further improvements in insulation by trapping a thin layer of air outside of the neoprene outer surface. This can be done by treating the neoprene outer surface to render it superhydrophobic, which can in turn be done in multiple ways. The surface may also be mechanically modified and its wettability adjusted by altering its microscale texture, e.g. by adding ???synthetic fur.??? Overall, making the outer surface of neoprene superhydrophobic could benefit the diver in two ways: by significantly reducing the viscous drag on the diver, enabling more efficient swimming, and by enhancing the thermal insulation provided by the wetsuit, further extending the dive persistence. Power generation for the purpose of thermal management is important for heat generation and the powering of sensory elements. Dive persistence can be enhanced by applying heat generation concepts to warm the diver. In addition, powering sensory elements is especially important fromthe perspective of evaluating the physiological status of the diver and the conditions to which he or she is being exposed. Energy harvesting from the resources available in the underwater environment is of utmost importance. In the area of advanced thermal management, we propose a recently developed technology that takes advantage of the interaction between water moleculesand one dimensional nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes to generate electricity on demand. In essence, the power generation can occur at ambient conditions in the absence of an exothermic reaction via the asymmetric infiltration of a liquid dopant onto carbon nanotube films. More recently, we have made progress in translating this technology to flexible polymeric substrates and demonstrated the use of liquid water as a means to generate electricity. Future work will focus on the power generation capabilities of this technology, especially in an aqueous environment with varying levels of salinity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 26, 2018
- Source ID
- N000141812436
Entities
People
- Michael Strano
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy