About COMPCOOLER Personal Thermal Regulation Systems

COMPCOOLER has established a pedigree for developing MIL spec products including Personal Thermal Systems and Micro Chiller Units for over 15 years. The same cooling and heating benefits developed for military applications has been adapted for a myriad of civilian applications. Our goal is to provide innovative systems made to the highest quality standards at affordable prices and with exceptional customer service. COMPCOOLER is a ISO9001 registered facility with certifications including CE, FCC, UL, PSE, RoHS, FDA for both components and systems

Background to Personal Thermal Regulation Devices:

Personal cooling systems were first developed more than 60 years ago to regulate the body temperature of astronauts and military pilots during their intense and heat-stressing duties. More commonly referred to as a liquid personal cooling system, it consisted of a tubing-lined garment connected via hoses to a cooling appliance that includes cold sink, fluid pump and power unit. In operation, a pump circulates cooled fluid in a continuous loop between the garment and a cold sink to regulate the user’s body temperature, thus decreasing the incidence of thermal stress and heat stroke while increasing comfort, safety, focus and endurance.

For the past 15 years, Compcooler has expanded this technology to offer several kinds of liquid personal cooling systems that cater to a myriad of workplace and recreational applications. These systems are grouped into two main categories: Self-Contained or Stationary. Cold sinks for both self-contained and stationary systems are offered in either ice-based or chiller-based options as follows:

Ice-based systems include a bladder or hard plastic container that can easily be removed from the system with quick-disconnect fittings. The bladder or hard container gets filled with water and then frozen. The ice serves to cool the liquid that is pumped to the tubing-lined garment. Cooling time is predicated on the time it takes for the ice to melt, followed by battery life. The time it takes for the ice to melt depends on the bladder size, the ambient conditions, and the workload of the user. Having additional batteries and frozen bladders on hand can prolong the cooling time.
Chillers are a type of mechanical refrigeration system that use a compressor to cool the liquid. For COMPCOOLER’s line of products, these chillers are very small and lightweight. Cooling time is predicated on the power source, typically in the form of an AC outlet, vehicle DC battery or rechargeable battery.

Self-Contained vs. Stationary Systems:

Self-contained systems are designed for applications where the user requires freedom of movement, like a HAZMAT first responder, for example. As such, these systems are battery powered and carried on the person. The majority of self-contained systems use ice as the cold sink, although one system is offered with a battery-operated chiller.
Conversely, stationary systems are designed for static applications, like a welder performing his/her duties in the same location. The cooling system is separated from the User’s cooling garment and connected with longer coolant hoses. Stationary systems are typically powered by unlimited energy sources such as an AC outlet or a vehicle’s DC battery, although rechargeable batteries can also be used.