High Efficiency Insulating Barrier for Expeditionary Shelters Navy SBIR FY2014.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2014.2 Topic No.: N142-088 Topic Title: High Efficiency Insulating Barrier for Expeditionary Shelters Proposal No.: N142-088-0018 Firm: ATA Engineering, Inc 13290 Evening Creek Drive South Suite 250 San Diego, California 92128-4695 Contact: Allison Hutchings Phone: (858) 480-2021 Web Site: www.ata-e.com Abstract: Existing expeditionary shelter systems used by the US Marine Corps require significant energy resources for climate control and current thermal insulation solutions create unnecessary logistical burden due to their size and weight. ATA Engineering, Inc. proposes an SBIR project to adapt and continue development of its proprietary insulating barrier technology, whose feasibility in achieving R-values and storage efficiency exceeding those identified by the solicitation has already been proven in a development effort with the US Army. ATA will leverage knowledge and expertise originally gained from the previous effort, in particular an innovative high R-value insulating barrier formed from a cellular fabric system. The design will be refined and further optimized to meet the performance requirements identified in the specification. Once compliance with the fundamental requirements (insulative performance, weight density, and storage volume) are indicated through analytical simulation and specimen thermal testing, the concept will be applied to a preliminary full-scale design for integration with HDT's Base-Xr Model 305 expeditionary shelter system already in use by the Marine Corps as the Expeditionary Shelter System (Medium). Benefits: A more efficient insulating barrier solution for the Marine Corps' softwall shelters has the potential to reduce both fossil fuel consumption and improve energy efficiency. Implementing an improved insulating barrier will allow mobile shelters to provide sufficient climatic control for inhabitants at significantly reduced cost. The potential for cost reduction is twofold including reduced electrical power consumption through lessened HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) demand and reduced logistical burden through decreased equipment size and weight. The proposed project will develop a softwall shelter insulating barrier design that provides step-changes in the effectiveness of thermal isolation and packaging efficiency, greatly reducing the resources required to transport and heat or cool expeditionary shelters. A solution that can meet the Marine Corps requirements will have broad applicability across the US Department of Defense agencies as well as with NATO allies. Shelters with these characteristics would also have broad commercial applications worldwide including temporary housing for homeland security operations, natural disaster response teams, and humanitarian efforts. Variants or specific elements of the technology may also have applications in the outdoor adventure and camping industries, which present substantial commercial opportunities. Return