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Game, Set, Match: An Electronic Shoe for Playing Tennis

CSEF · 2017 Applied Mechanics & Structures

Alexandra P. Kuo · La Jolla Senior High School, La Jolla, San Diego County

Overview

Objectives/Goals My objective was to see if I could create a Peltier tile cooling device that would reduce the temperature within a tennis shoe under simulated heat conditions compared to control. Methods/Materials My methods were as follows: - mathematically calculating the heat load my Peltier system might be expected to cool, - testing the energy requirements and cooling performance of a Peltier tile, - integrating into a tennis shoe a Peltier tile and a DC energy source, - engineering a system for dissipating the heat the Peltier tile generates, - testing the performance of my experimental model with different batteries against a control, and - creating a digital model of the thermodynamics within my experimental model. Results - The energy requirements of the Peltier tile I planned to use for cooling fit my calculations for heat emanating from the tennis court, but not from the foot itself. - In all tests with AAA batteries and 9-volt batteries, the experimental shoe cooled down 4°F-5°F while the control shoe cooled down 2°F-3°F - Despite two design and experimental testing failures, my final cooling system design tested with 9-volt and AAA batteries simulating the heat in a tennis shoe performed modestly better than control so my hypothesis is correct. Conclusions/Discussion - In my review of the literature, I did not find that anyone else had ever tried to use a Peltier tile to cool a shoe. - My experimental testing did conform to my mathematically calculated heat loads with respect to having a modest cooling effect. - The digital model created will facilitate further experimental testing by better quantifying each phenomenon occurring. - A Peltier cooling system for shoes should be considered in applications where comfort and safety in hot conditions is necessary such as boots of soldiers in a desert or firefighter boots

Summary statement

I built a Peltier tile cooling system that functioned to cool a tennis shoe without any moving parts.

Help received

I wish to thank Matt Ondriezek for assisting with the construction and testing of my experimental and digital models. I wish to thank David Eldon for helping me to research the feasibility of my project. I wish to thank Martin Teachworth for providing suggestions on the direction of this project.

Competition history

  • CSEF 2017 Applied Mechanics & Structures · Entry S0311

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