CoolVest

Was es macht

CoolVest integrates salt-based PCM packs into a wearable vest, passively absorbing and storing body heat at a comfortable 18 °C - 22 °C plateau. It replaces heavy, wet, and uncomfortable ice cooling vest, delivering hours of stable cooling without dripping.

Deine Inspiration

Migrant construction workers in tropical climates such as in our hometown Singapore, suffer heat stress, dehydration, and reduced productivity. On-site interviews revealed that conventional ice cooling vests are impractical, heavy, uncomfortable to wear due to condensation and water dripping, and also painful to wear as it melts at super low temperature of 0 °C which causes skin irritation. Inspired by homemade “DIY PCM” YouTube tutorials and academic papers on latent-heat cooling, our team set out to develop a low-cost, reusable vest that maintains a safe skin temperature without dripping water or requiring electricity.

So funktioniert es

CoolVest’s core is a series of sealed pouches containing a water–sodium sulfate/chloride blend with added thickener (CMC or Xanthan gum). When frozen, the PCM solidifies at 18 °C. As the wearer heats up, the PCM melts—absorbing heat at a constant temperature—keeping the body at a skin-friendly temperature plateau. Steps: 1. Freeze: Vest pouches go into any standard freezer overnight (0 °C) or fridge to cool (< 18 °C). 2. Wear: Frozen pouches are inserted into safety vest wrapping the chest and back. 3. Cool: As body heat rises,, the PCM uses its latent heat of fusion to melt, holding the vest at 18 °C for up several hours. 4. Recharge: Re-freeze/Re-cool pouches to reuse—no power or water needed on site.

Designprozess

1. Problem framing: Interviewed over 20 construction workers; identified shortcomings of existing ice cooling vest solutions (wetness, short duration of cooling, heavy weight, sharpness of cooling). 2. Concept research: Reviewed phase-change literature and DIY recipes on phase change materials. 3. Recipe trials: Tested six PCM formulations varying salt ratio and thickeners (CMC vs. xanthan gum). Measured melt-time, consistency, and heat absorption. 4. Thermal modeling: Calculated theoretical cooling capacity and plateau comfort against existing cooling vest solutions. 5. Prototyping: Recipe iteration of phase change material to find the most suitable temperature range. Testing of different pouch sizes and materials to find most suitable. Partnered with a clothing factory to design pouches on safety vests to fit pcm pouches. 6. User trials: Preliminary wear tests under hot working conditions; collected comfort and cooling feedback. 7. Iteration: Optimized pouch thickness for weight and cooling duration, improved material seal.

Warum es anders ist

1. Comfort plateau: Maintains 18 °C versus ice’s 0 °C–25 °C swing, preventing cold shock or condensation. 2. Dry cooling: Rigorously sealed pouches eliminate dripping and soak-through. 3. Reusability & cost: Made from food-safe salts and water—low cost (< S$10 per vest)—and re-freezeable in any standard freezer or fridge. 4. Targeted ergonomics: Modular channel layout conforms to body, ensuring even cooling and freedom of movement—unlike traditional bulky ice-vest packs.

Pläne für die Zukunft

Field trials: Partner with construction companies in Singapore for month-long wear tests. Material optimization: Explore bio-derived thickeners and higher latent-heat salts (e.g., calcium chloride) for longer cooling duration. Manufacturing scale-up: Develop injection-molded PCM pouches and textile integration for mass production. Commercial launch: Aim for pilot production by Q4 2025 and market entry Q2 2026 under a social-enterprise model.

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