Dr. Kamel Ghali Co-Authors Study on Wearable Cooling Technology for Humid Climates

Hot and humid environments challenge the body’s ability to regulate core temperature, increasing the risk of heat stress and heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Prolonged exposure can also reduce physical performance, impair cognitive function, and increase fatigue.

Addressing this challenge, Dr. Kamel Ghali co-authored a study titled “Compact Desiccant-Coated Thermoelectric Wearable Device for Effective Evaporative Cooling Vest in Humid Climates.”

The study examines personal cooling technologies designed to reduce physiological strain and maintain thermal comfort during outdoor activities. While several personal cooling systems have been developed, each presents certain limitations. Passive cooling vests using phase-change materials absorb body heat through melting but are limited by their weight and limited cooling duration. Active refrigeration-based cooling vests provide continuous cooling but are often bulky and heavy because of compressors, batteries, and associated components.

Evaporative cooling vests offer a lightweight alternative by circulating the ambient air through the garment to enhance sweat evaporation. However, their cooling performance decreases significantly in hot and humid environments, where high moisture levels limit evaporation. Their effectiveness may also be reduced during low-activity periods when sweat production is insufficient.

To address these limitations, the study investigates the use of dehumidified air in evaporative cooling vests. Solid desiccants remove moisture from ambient air through sorption, creating drier air that enhances evaporative cooling. Because desiccants require periodic regeneration, thermoelectric modules provide a compact solution by simultaneously cooling the dehumidified air and regenerating the desiccant through the Peltier effect.

Under representative hot and humid conditions of 40°C and 45% relative humidity, the wearable desiccant–thermoelectric device improved overall thermal comfort by more than 0.5 compared with fan-only operation.

The findings demonstrate the potential of the proposed system as a lightweight, low-power, and effective personal cooling solution for hot and humid environments.

The study was published in Volume 281 of Applied Thermal Engineering.

DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2025.128757