About This Project

The goal of this research is to develop a zero-energy, zero carbon emitting, functional cooling garment prototype — designed for extreme heat events. We explore the function of clothing in relation to its wearer and the environment pulling inspiration from the Coolant adiabatic cooling towers. Leveraging 3D clothing patterns, and self cooling fabric, we focus on cooling regions of the body that are known to perspire most.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Ideated at CERN, AEMULA is inspired by the zero-energy air-conditioning architectural structures developed by Ant studio. With their collaboration, we have begun designing a cooling garment based on the principle of phase change (evaporation); absorption of ambient heat generates a cooling effect when air runs through it. Recently, microencapsulated Phase Change Material (PCM) fabrics have become available on the market, allowing us to scale the principle of the cooling towers down to a self-cooling garment. PCM is a substance that releases, or absorbs, energy sustainably at phase transition to provide useful heat or cooling. Leveraging the kirigami effect, we've begun conducting research and development on a wearable garment with optimal air-flow.

What is the significance of this project?

Wet-bulb temperature is an extreme heat event that happens when the temperature exceeds 35°C with a humidity level of 100%. Those events induce overheating in humans, marking our survivability limit to climate change. While these events are still sparse, they are predicted to increase in frequency in the Middle East and south Asia.

In addition to those events, these regions are already subject to extreme heat with temperatures regularly exceeding 45°C in India. While traditional clothing has adapted to withstand heat encountered in these regions, innovation must take shape to allow for people to continue carrying out their work and daily lives in increased temperatures.

What are the goals of the project?

The goal is to develop a zero-energy, zero carbon emitting, cooling garment prototype to gain confidence that it can effectively cool down the body. We’re using an iterative approach exploring the best scale and placement for the laser cut openings in relation to the body’s perspiration zones ensuring optimal air flow. We will quantify how well this garment cools the user with thermal imaging and a virtual simulation through, CFD analysis, to assess its cooling potential.

The future vision is to employ Embodied Design Ideation — “working with relationships between body, material and context to enliven design and research potential” — to incorporate shape memory alloy that responds to external and body temperature to automatically ventilate the body with precision.