1. Ben Williams Joint Food Service & Engineering Team
Heat Ailment Recovery Pack (HARP)
RD&A Conference 2016
Ben Williams Joint Food Service & Engineering Team
09 September 2016

2. HARP Invention Overview
Brief Description
The HARP provides medical personnel the ability to safely store, transport, and monitor/actively control the temperature of its contents. The intended purpose of the HARP is to provide personnel with the capability to maintain temperature and/or cool water to their required temperature after any duration of time while also providing superior insulation properties.

3. Concept Overview & Background
Program Background
Realizing the need to provide the Warfighters with the capability to cool their own water, the CFD at NSRDEC modified a commercially available, highly efficient microclimate vapor-compression refrigeration system to quickly cool bulk drinking water in a bladder which is housed in a custom designed insulated bag system. This insulated bag system is known as the Heat Ailment Recovery Pack (HARP). The HARP concept was conceived by NSRDEC and JSOC AFRICOM personnel at the JSOC’s request. The project was initiated in order to provide operators on the ground with the capability to rapidly store and cool bulk water after any duration of time in high ambient temperatures; however, JSOC personnel expressed their interest in utilizing the system for cooling medical supplies as well as potable water.
The HARP’s general size and construction is based off the currently fielded large Insulated Container for Bottled water (ICB); which was initially funded, designed and constructed for JPO MRAP, but was ultimately fielded by the REF through additional procurements. The ICB is currently constructed in-house at NSRDEC, but could easily be constructed by manufacturers NSRDEC already uses for air-drop system textile construction efforts. The ICB has undergone customer testing and a full technical report is available upon request.
The ICB was originally designed to provide mounted units with an extremely ruggedized, blast-proof insulated storage solution for bottled water/rations. Realizing the versatility of the ICB and the ease at which it can be customized, it was determined that it would provide an excellent and durable platform to integrate all the components necessary to meet the HARP’s requirements.
Large ICB

4. Operator provides medical care on-site with cold water and medical supplies at proper temperature.3 ! 4
Operator removes secondary bag from HARP containing cooled water/medical supplies, mounts refrigeration system/battery and continues on foot with system still running. 2
Operator activates HARP 3-hours out and deploys solar shade to provide additional run time if necessary. Operator can utilize stored bottled water for own hydration. 1
Operators receive orders to provide care to patient who has succumb to a heat related ailment, retrieves HARP and proceeds to patient’s location via vehicle.

5. HARP Overview HARP System Exterior
5 Layer insulated construction with super durable Polychromatic coated (Infrared reflecting) rip-stop nylon impregnated vinyl exterior. Coating provides 6X longer holding time in direct sunlight.
Remote Monitoring and Control (ON/OFF)
Micro Refrigeration System
Protector Plate
BB2590 Battery (9.6Ah)
HDPE Plastic Base

6. HARP Overview Date: 01 Oct 09 OMA HARP System Exterior
Refrigeration System Quick Disconnect
Remote Control Receiver (ON/OFF)
Date: 01 Oct 09
OMA

7. HARP Overview OMA HARP System Exterior MOLLE
Tie-down straps integrated into lid with quick release male cobra buckles allow the HARP to be restrained in any vehicle.
Carrying handles on either end.
Female cobra buckles located on bottom receive tie-down straps.
HARP System Exterior
OMA

8. HARP Overview Date: 01 Oct 09 OMA Access Flap for Bottled Water
Access flap for bottled water storage.
Date: 01 Oct 09
OMA

9. HARP Overview Date: 01 Oct 09 HARP Interior
Inner bag houses water/items to be actively cooled.
Removable/adjustable divider with storage. Also houses solar panel.
Waterproof snap-in liner allows for use of ice.
Water storage area.
Double flip top design for full access.
Cooling system quick disconnect pass-through automatically disconnects when the inner bag is lifted up.
Date: 01 Oct 09

10. HARP Overview Date: 01 Oct 09 OMA HARP Accessories
Flexible solar panel and electronics housed in divider. Solar panel can be draped over the HARP to provide extra shade while charging. Also includes shade for battery to decrease charging time.
Additional storage pockets located on either side of the interior.
Date: 01 Oct 09
OMA

11. HARP Overview Date: 01 Oct 09 OMA HARP Interior Bag
Interior bag can be removed and used as a standalone system; continuing to provide active cooling in a man-portable platform.
Removable/adjustable shoulder straps can be repositioned anywhere on the bag for organic transportation capability.
MOLLE on backside allows the inner bag to be attached to a separate pack if required.
Cooling system and battery are removed from outer bag and attached to inner bag for mobile operation.
Contents can be removed and transported independently if required via included MOLLE pouch.
Date: 01 Oct 09
OMA

12. HARP Overview Date: 01 Oct 09 OMA HARP Interior Bag
2X Velcro backed storage pouches and elastic retainers.
Wireless remote monitoring allows the user to remotely monitor up to 4 items which require active cooling.
Water bladder houses 2 bottles of water and circulates ½ Gal of water that is actively cooled by the cooling system.
Date: 01 Oct 09
OMA

13. HARP Overview Date: 01 Oct 09 HARP Remote Monitoring & Control
Remotely monitor up to 4 items contained within the HARP from up to 100’ away. Battery life (AAA) up to 2 years for monitor and sensors.
Remote monitor and key fob housed in waterproof pelican case that can be clipped directly on the user or the user’s pack.
Remotely activate/deactivate the cooling system.
Date: 01 Oct 09

14. HARP Overview Date: 01 Oct 09 Safety
All tubing throughout the system is silver impregnated Anti-fungal/bacterial Tygon tubing.
When not in use system can be filled with Golden Solution ($5.99) to maintain bacteria/fungal free environment. This is not required but recommended.
Date: 01 Oct 09