Introducing the new TPP and RPP Test Devices

Last week, MTNW engineers completed testing and installing two new exciting products for a customer in the Eastern USA:

1. TPP (Thermal Protective Performance) Test Device
2. RPP (Radiant Protective Performance) Test Device

The TPP device includes two propane burners and a 9-bulb quartz infrared heat lamp assembly to generate the heat profile, while the RPP uses a 5-bulb quartz lamp array.

Both devices were developed to measure the time elapsed for convective and/or radiant heat to penetrate through a protective composite fabric system – resulting in damage to human skin. The new TPP and RPP models include features not available in units built by other manufacturers, such as automatic (or manual) test operation, support for up to three copper disk calorimeter sensor assemblies, and an integrated air-cooled sensor stand that quickly prepares calorimeter sensors for next test. The TPP’s propane burner system includes flame detection auto ignition, plus a mass flow controller and panel for monitoring gas pressure and usage. A tinted acrylic shield (not shown) protects the operator, while software safety interlocks monitor water flow, carriage position, and burner ignition.

During testing, our ThermDAC control software will continuously record and display a real-time graph of the average temperature rise, depicted as a curved line representing higher and higher temperatures as heat penetrates through the composite fabric materials to the sensor. After the test is completed, the results are automatically compared to Stoll’s curve, which represents the blister point of human skin as a function of heat and time. The point of intersection between these two curves provides the composite fabric’s TPP (or RPP) rating.

The TPP complies with the NFPA 2112, ASTM F2700, ASTM F2703, and ISO 17492 test standards. The RPP complies with ASTM F1939 and F2702.

To learn more about these new products, go to TPP Product Page or RPP Product Page.

Tags: ASTM F1939, ASTM F2700, ASTM F2702, ASTM F2703, ISO 17492, NFPA 2112, thermal, Thermal Measurement

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 at 6:13 pm and is filed under Thermal Measurement. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

IPEMS Phase 1 is Complete!

As regular Measurement Technology NW followers may know, back in November 2008 MTNW and a group that included Midwest Research Institute, Boston Dynamics, Smith Carter CUH2A, and HHI Corporation were chosen by the US Army to design and build “IPEMS” (Individual Protection Ensemble Mannequin System). This project includes state-of-the-art chemical testing facilities and a first-of-its-kind robotic thermal mannequin to perform high-resolution testing of protective clothing and equipment under live chemical exposure conditions. The IPEMS mannequin will be a freestanding, self-balancing robot that will simulate human physiology for realistic tests of protective equipment in a controlled environment.

Measurement Technology NW’s role is to develop IPEMS’s skin surface segments and thermal control systems, while other partnering companies developed the robotic mannequin’s internal structure. Integrating full-function thermal, perspiration, and chemical sensing controls into a 50th percentile body form, while also fitting it over an internal robotic structure capable of ranges of movement far beyond that of existing mannequin systems, presented some significant challenges. Adding more complexity to this challenge was the need for sealed skin surfaces and joints to prevent chemical agent contamination, while still allowing internal access for service and repairs.

The IPEMS mannequin design that emerged from Phase 1 – the design phase – included a body surface segmented into 17 separate hard-shell regions (14 independent thermal zones), each with sweating capability and chemical sensing ports. Overall, Phase 1 was a successful effort. Phase 2 – the fabrication phase – will include first-article build up of a mannequin shell region and joint sleeve. After decontamination testing and safety/operational procedures are finalized, work will begin on building the first IPEMS mannequin.

Tags: Boston Dynamics, IPEMS, thermal manikin, thermal mannequin, Thermal Measurement, thermal testing

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 15th, 2010 at 2:44 pm and is filed under Thermal Measurement. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

The 8I3M conference is only two months away!

Had the pleasure of visiting Victoria, BC, Canada last week to hold some pre-event meetings for the 8I3M conference (Eighth International Meeting for Manikins and Modeling). After a review of the excellent facilities at PISE (Pacific Institute of Sports Excellence, our conference site) and the Hotel Grand Pacific – confirming the room layouts, choosing menu selections with the caterers, and finalizing the details on shuttle bus transportation between the Hotel Grand Pacific and PISE – I had a little time to walk around and see the beautiful city of Victoria. My visit happened to coincide with “Fleet Week” and the 100th anniversary celebration of the Canadian Navy. Naval ships from Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and the USA were in port, and the streets were full of happy sailors enjoying a day off. They, and I, had a wonderful time, as will everyone attending the 8I3M conference.

For those of you who plan to attend, please register (www.i3mmeeting.com) and make your hotel reservations NOW. The room block we have reserved at the Hotel Grand Pacific (www.hotelgrandpacific.com) is filling up, and we are also getting close to the deadline for confirming the 8I3M space requirements at PISE.

Don’t delay or you will miss out on the year’s premier conference for research involving thermal manikins and human modeling.

Tags: 8I3M, Thermal Measurement

This entry was posted on Monday, June 21st, 2010 at 4:20 pm and is filed under Thermal Measurement. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

Employee Appreciation

During an MTNW staff year-end review and planning meeting that took place early last year, a suggestion was made that the company should do more than just breathe a big sigh of relief whenever a new piece of thermal testing equipment was shipped out. Based on that humble suggestion MTNW put into motion a well-received employee appreciation program we call the “shipping lunch”. On the Friday of any week in which a new thermal manikin, guarded hotplate, or flame test device is completed and shipped, MTNW brings in lunch for the production and engineering staff.

There is no shortage of dining choices here in Seattle, and our shipping lunches tend to reflect the diversity of the local cuisine. Greek, Italian, Mexican, Southern BBQ, Indian, Thai, Cuban, Japanese (sushi) and good ‘ol American fare have all taken turns on the menu, but I have to reserve special mention for last week’s shipping lunch, featuring burgers from the Lunch Box Laboratory. These incredible burgers (mine was the bacon-topped “Hothead”) were easily the biggest and tastiest I have ever had. Satisfying enough to induce a food coma – especially when washed down with a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup shake – it was an experience that will have to be repeated someday. If, that is, I ever feel hungry again.

Tags: employee appreciation, lunch, Thermal Measurement

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 at 7:31 pm and is filed under Thermal Measurement. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

NEMO Gets His 15 Minutes of Fame

NEMO, our submersible thermal manikin system, doesn’t make the headlines very often. After all, a true-weight cast aluminum sweating thermal manikin that is designed to operate underwater at depths of up to 10 feet (3 meters) is a rather specialized piece of equipment built to fulfill a unique set of research needs. Nevertheless, NEMO is in the news this week thanks to a new installation at Japan’s Ministry of Defense.

Ministry researchers had been try to secure funding for NEMO since 2006, but after years of negotiations things came together quickly in late 2009 and, by February 15th, we had an order in-hand along with an extremely challenging delivery date. Because of government procurement regulations associated with the end of Japan’s fiscal year, MTNW engineers had to design, build, test, and ship a custom 50th percentile (Japanese Male) sweating NEMO system in less than 14 weeks!

I’m not kidding when I say that our Japanese agents (IDS) and the whole MTNW team went into overdrive on this project. Thanks to everyone’s efforts we successfully met the deadline and last week’s installation went very smoothly. Now the customer is happy, our agent is happy, and we’re happy. Dazed and more than a little bit tired… but happy.

Tags: Nemo, thermal, thermal manikin, thermal mannequin, Thermal Measurement, thermal testing

This entry was posted on Monday, May 24th, 2010 at 2:12 pm and is filed under Thermal Measurement. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

Automotive HVAC Manikin Testing System

Remember a few months ago when I mentioned that MTNW engineers love custom projects? Here’s a good example that shows our Newton manikin system re-purposed to serve (quite well I might add) as a sophisticated, repeatable tool for car/truck/transit HVAC comfort research.

This non-thermal manikin system features our popular 50th percentile Western or Asian male body form along with the addition of high-accuracy surface-mounted sensors to evaluate the environmental comfort conditions of automotive passenger cabins.

An integrated matrix of sensors measures air velocity, air temperature, radiant heat flux, and relative humidity. Wireless communication capability is included, and each manikin separates into upper and lower halves at the waist for easy insertion into a variety of vehicles. Newton is a fully jointed manikin, and this model is built with shoulder joints that allow the manikin’s elbows to move in or out from the torso, reflecting a range of typical driver positions.

Mitten-shaped manikin hands in a curved, gripping shape allow for easy positioning of the hands onto the vehicle steering wheel. Their shape does not impact air movement, but permits airflow similar to that of a human grip/fist. Thigh backs are flattened to simulate seat compression, for more realistic airflow patterns.

The ambient sensor matrix includes:

60 – Custom airflow/velocity/temperature sensors, developed by MTNW for this specific application. Protective caps are included for use during vehicle installation or storage. Measurement range:

• -20°C to +70°C
• +/- 1.0°C calibrated accuracy
• +/- 0.1°C resolution
• Airflow rates: 0.1-5.0 M/sec
• Temperature compensated from -20°C to +70°C

30 – Thermal radiation sensors, each mounted in a protective recess with the sensor at skin level. Measurement range is from near zero to >3,000 W/m², 1-20 um wavelength.

5 – Relative humidity sensors, 0 to 95% RH, non-condensing.

Interested in having one or two, or four of your own? No problem – we can build more!

Tags: thermal, thermal manikin, thermal mannequin, Thermal Measurement

This entry was posted on Friday, April 2nd, 2010 at 8:51 pm and is filed under Thermal Measurement. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

If you’re ever in the neighborhood…

Fisherman’s Terminal (located on Salmon Bay in the Interbay neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, just east of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks and immediately west of the Ballard Bridge) was officially established in 1914 by the Port of Seattle as the home port for the North Pacific Fishing Fleet – which nowadays includes some of the vessels featured on the Discovery Channel show The Deadliest Catch.

The facility provides safe, freshwater mooring for fishing vessels and pleasure craft up to 250 feet (76.2 m) in length. Preference is given to commercial fishing vessels, and at any given time, more than 600 boats call it home. Local residents and visitors can often buy fresh salmon, halibut, cod, or crab directly from boats newly arrived from the Gulf of Alaska. The facility is also the center of a busy commercial district with shops, restaurants, banks, and other marine businesses.

Located just up the hill from this nearly century-old maritime center is Measurement Technology NW. At only 24 years old we’re a relative youngster in these parts, but everyone working here loves seafood, so, in a way, you could say we fit right in. And MTNW customers who have made the trip to our offices know that a truly great seafood restaurant (Chinook’s, at Fisherman’s Terminal) is just a short stroll away.

If you have a thermal comfort project you’d like to discuss, come on by – we’ll do lunch!

Tags: Measurement Technology, Thermal Measurement, thermal testing

This entry was posted on Monday, March 15th, 2010 at 8:14 pm and is filed under Thermal Measurement. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

8I3M: The deadline for Abstract Submissions has been extended to March 15th

The 8th International Meeting for Manikins and Modeling (8I3M) is the primary forum for international experts on the science of human thermal comfort to present and discuss current and future challenges, opportunities, and the requirements of next-generation protective clothing, high-performance sport apparel, and environmental comfort research. Abstracts and papers are invited on a broad spectrum of topics, including:

• Thermal manikin applications including aerospace, automotive, clothing, commercial, industrial and military
• Human thermal physiology and mathematical models
• New or updated manikin, modeling and testing standards
• Thermal manikin developments, including breathing, sweating, and walking systems
• Environmental comfort research and human interaction
• Flame and Chemical exposure tests
• Body part manikins
• Virtual manikins
• Validation / Correlation studies

Authors are invited to submit research abstracts (300 to 500 words in length) for consideration at 8I3M. Abstracts should be submitted as soon as possible. A sampling of those received to-date include:

• Evaporative Resistance and Thermal Insulation of Clothing under Different Posture Positions
• Numerical Simulation Study on the Heat Loss from a Thermal Foot Manikin
• Protective Clothing Design Effects on Ensemble Biophysics and Predicted Human Thermal Responses
• Using Operational Models to Predict Performance of New Concepts in (CBRN) Personal Protective Systems

Visit the official 8I3M website: www.i3mmeeting.com for the conference schedule, registration forms, research paper submission forms, information on lodging at Victoria’s luxurious Hotel Grand Pacific, and upcoming conference deadlines. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of the year’s most important venue for the advancement of human thermal comfort research.

Tags: 8I3M, thermal manikin, thermal mannequin, Thermal Measurement, thermal testing

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 at 7:01 pm and is filed under Thermal Measurement. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

NEW – Stored Energy Test Device and ASTM Standard

Measurement Technology NW’s new Stored Energy Test (SET) Device is designed to measure both transmitted and stored heat energy in firefighter protective clothing material systems under a specific set of exposure conditions. In real life, the combination of transmitted and stored heat within protective textiles and composites has been found to be sufficient to cause burn injuries under certain circumstances, and this new device is intended to replicate and measure these conditions.

In this new test device, a horizontally or vertically positioned fabric specimen is exposed to a radiant heat source (producing an energy output similar to the spectral density of a structural fire) for a fixed period of time. During exposure a data collection sensor, positioned above the innermost surface of the test sample, measures the heat energy transmitted through the fabric. At the end of the exposure time, the fabric specimen is then compressed against the data collection sensor, which continues to measure the heat energy stored within the sample – as per the recently-approved ASTM standard: ASTM F2731 Standard Test Method for Measuring the Transmitted and Stored Energy of Firefighter Protective Clothing Systems. The total energy transmitted and stored by the fabric specimen is used to predict whether a second degree burn injury will occur. If a second degree burn injury is predicted, the time to a second degree burn injury is reported.

MTNW’s exclusive Stored Energy Test Device includes a radiant heat source, specimen holder, sensor assembly, transfer tray with water-cooled carriage, pneumatically-actuated compressor assembly, data acquisition/control system, and PC with burn damage analysis software. You know you want one, so give us a call for more details and a price quote.

Tags: ASTM, protective textiles, Stored Energy Test, stored heat energy, thermal, Thermal Measurement, thermal testing

This entry was posted on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 5:27 pm and is filed under Thermal Measurement. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

New Year’s Resolutions

With the beginning of a new year comes New Year’s resolutions, and for all our sweating manikin operators we heartily recommend making the resolution to pay more attention to your manikin’s fluid circulation system. Towards that goal I have re-posted a service bulletin from a few years ago that describes the maintenance procedures our engineers have developed for the proper care of our sweating manikins – including Newton (all models) and the Thermal Hand, Thermal Foot, and Thermal Head systems. Note: The procedures shown below apply only to MTNW manikins using removable wicking fabric skins. For manikins with MTNW’s porous metal sweating skin surfaces, please contact MTNW for maintenance information specific to these systems.

MTNW Service Bulletin

Sweating Manikin Fluid System Storage and Flushing Procedures

Long-term storage of water systems, even with high purity water, can result in bacterial growth and a resulting biofilm on all wetted surfaces. Studies have demonstrated significant bacterial activity within 7 days in a high-purity closed system. The large number of variables affecting this phenomenon, including supply water purity, existing bacterial content of water system, ambient temperature, and wetted materials, can make each location unique.

MTNW’s sweating manikin systems meet many of the criteria for promoting bacterial growth. The sealed design of MTNW’s fluid system does not permit reliable purging of the internal tubes, so the system remains wetted throughout its service life. The flowrates are low and often stagnant during non-sweating operation. Water recirculates through the system, so any bacterial content developed in the manikin tubes gets returned to the reservoir. Adding more high-purity water to the reservoir does not eliminate any existing biological activity.

The maintenance procedures outlined below are intended to minimize/reduce bacterial growth, and also offer a shock treatment to systems for periodic cleaning. NOTE: All supply water should be deionized or distilled high purity water.

If you will be USING the manikin sweating system AT LEAST ONCE PER WEEK:

1. Fully drain and rinse out the manikin fluid reservoir with supply water
2. Refill reservoir with supply water
3. Unplug recirculation (black) tube from reservoir and route it to a drain or collection bucket
4. Turn on the fluid pump and allow it to run for 10 minutes to purge the old water from the system
5. Top off the reservoir and resume testing

If you will be STORING the manikin or not operating the fluid system (re: non-sweating tests) for MORE THAN ONE WEEK:

1. Remove the wicking fabric sweating suit
2. Add 5 liters of supply water to empty reservoir
3. Add 1 ml of unscented household bleach and shake the reservoir to mix and coat the inside surfaces (this will result in approximately 10 PPM sodium hypochlorite solution)
4. With the manikin tubing fully connected, turn on the fluid pump and allow it to run for 10 minutes, recirculating this solution through the closed system.
5. Set all the manikin sweat rates to 2000 ml/hr/m2, and allow the system to sweat for 10 minutes.
6. The system can now be stored for up to 2 months containing this solution
7. Prior to running sweating tests, repeat this procedure with fresh supply water to purge chlorine from the system

Every TWO MONTHS as preventative maintenance or as a special one-time shock treatment after storage:

1. Very important – Long-term exposure to sodium hypochlorite can degrade internal manikin system components. Do not allow bleach solution to remain inside the manikin system for more then 10 minutes.
2. Caution – This process uses bleach with a concentration which could possibly discolor fabrics or cause staining. Use colorfast or white absorbent pad and towels for this procedure. Wear eye protection.
3. Remove the wicking fabric sweating suit and place an absorbent pad beneath manikin to catch runoff
4. Add 5 liters of supply water to empty reservoir
5. Add 100 ml of unscented household bleach and shake the reservoir to mix and coat the inside surfaces (this will result in approximately 1000 PPM sodium hypochlorite solution)
6. With the manikin tubing fully connected, turn on the fluid pump and allow it to run for 5 minutes, recirculating this solution through the closed system.
7. Set all the manikin sweat rates to 2000 ml/hr/m2, and allow the system to sweat for 5 minutes.
8. Set sweat rates back to 0 ml/hr/m2 and quickly blot the manikin dry with a colorfast cloth and turn off fluid pump
9. Immediately drain and rinse reservoir, and refill with clean supply water
10. Unplug recirculation (black) tube from reservoir and route it to a drain or collection bucket
11. Turn on the fluid pump and allow it to run for 5 minutes to purge the system
12. Set all the manikin sweat rates to 2000 ml/hr/m2, and allow the system to sweat for 5 minutes.
13. Set sweat rates back to 0 and blot manikin dry with colorfast cloth
14. Allow the pump to run for an additional 10 minutes, flushing water out the recirculation (black) tube.
15. Begin using the manikin for sweating tests within one week, or follow the previously mentioned storage procedure

Tags: sweating manikin, sweating mannequin, thermal, thermal hand systems, thermal manikin, thermal mannequin, Thermal Measurement, thermal testing

This entry was posted on Friday, January 15th, 2010 at 8:53 pm and is filed under Thermal Measurement. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.