Cooling vest with optimized PCM arrangement targeting torso sensitive areas that trigger comfort when cooled for improving human comfort in hot conditions

Three environmental conditions were considered at 28 °C, 35 °C and 45 °C for optimization and the results showed that 8, 18 and 20 PCM packets were needed to provide cooling for the outdoor worker at acceptable comfort level, respectively. At the very high ambient temperature of 45 °C and when increasing the PCM packets number to 32 packets, it was shown that the working duration can be extended from 45 min recommended by labor standards to two hours similar to duration permitted at 28 °C and 35 °C.