How does the body cool itself in a stillsuit?
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In Dune, Fremen (and anyone else wishing to travel the desert) wear a Stillsuit, an all encompassing body suit which traps and recovers all moisture leaving the body. This includes urine, fecal moisture, breathing moisture, even menstrual fluids but primarily - sweat. It is captured, condensed, runs down to the feet and is pumped through walking action into basins where it can be drunk (again) by the suit wearer. Cool idea.
But the purpose of sweat is to cool the body; how does the body cool if the sweat is never allowed to evaporate, especially on Arrakis, a notorious desert planet?
dune
edited Apr 21 at 7:01
Jenayah
22.6k5108144
asked Apr 21 at 6:55
BobBob
38126
add a comment |
In Dune, Fremen (and anyone else wishing to travel the desert) wear a Stillsuit, an all encompassing body suit which traps and recovers all moisture leaving the body. This includes urine, fecal moisture, breathing moisture, even menstrual fluids but primarily - sweat. It is captured, condensed, runs down to the feet and is pumped through walking action into basins where it can be drunk (again) by the suit wearer. Cool idea.
But the purpose of sweat is to cool the body; how does the body cool if the sweat is never allowed to evaporate, especially on Arrakis, a notorious desert planet?
dune
edited Apr 21 at 7:01
Jenayah
22.6k5108144
asked Apr 21 at 6:55
BobBob
38126
4
Desert doesn't mean hot. It means little rain. Many regions on Arrakis are hot during the day, but they also get very cold as the sun goes down; keep out of the sun (the book's suits were white, unlike all the movies), "ration" your heat, and you'll have plenty of time to cool the apparatus down through the night. It's also noted in the books there is a rather massive flow of air from the poles towards the equator, bringing lots of cold air, so it's not clear exactly how hot the regions where the books take place are. Finally, the suits do lose water. They're just more efficient than humans.
– Luaan
Apr 21 at 15:20
1
@Luaan No, the suits are described as 'gray' and 'slick' multiple times in the books. For example: "Paul saw the contents of the mound exposed: the pale glistening gray of a stillsuit, a battered literjon, a kerchief with a small book in its center"
– James
Apr 21 at 22:01
1
@Luaan Also, Dune was very hot in the books. It's mentioned several times. That's part of the reason they often travel at night.
– James
Apr 21 at 22:07
add a comment |
In Dune, Fremen (and anyone else wishing to travel the desert) wear a Stillsuit, an all encompassing body suit which traps and recovers all moisture leaving the body. This includes urine, fecal moisture, breathing moisture, even menstrual fluids but primarily - sweat. It is captured, condensed, runs down to the feet and is pumped through walking action into basins where it can be drunk (again) by the suit wearer. Cool idea.
But the purpose of sweat is to cool the body; how does the body cool if the sweat is never allowed to evaporate, especially on Arrakis, a notorious desert planet?
dune
edited Apr 21 at 7:01
Jenayah
22.6k5108144
asked Apr 21 at 6:55
BobBob
38126
In Dune, Fremen (and anyone else wishing to travel the desert) wear a Stillsuit, an all encompassing body suit which traps and recovers all moisture leaving the body. This includes urine, fecal moisture, breathing moisture, even menstrual fluids but primarily - sweat. It is captured, condensed, runs down to the feet and is pumped through walking action into basins where it can be drunk (again) by the suit wearer. Cool idea.
But the purpose of sweat is to cool the body; how does the body cool if the sweat is never allowed to evaporate, especially on Arrakis, a notorious desert planet?
dune
dune
edited Apr 21 at 7:01
Jenayah
22.6k5108144
asked Apr 21 at 6:55
BobBob
38126
edited Apr 21 at 7:01
Jenayah
22.6k5108144
asked Apr 21 at 6:55
BobBob
38126
edited Apr 21 at 7:01
Jenayah
22.6k5108144
edited Apr 21 at 7:01
Jenayah
22.6k5108144
edited Apr 21 at 7:01
Jenayah
22.6k5108144
22.6k5108144
asked Apr 21 at 6:55
BobBob
38126
asked Apr 21 at 6:55
BobBob
38126
asked Apr 21 at 6:55
BobBob
38126
38126
4
Desert doesn't mean hot. It means little rain. Many regions on Arrakis are hot during the day, but they also get very cold as the sun goes down; keep out of the sun (the book's suits were white, unlike all the movies), "ration" your heat, and you'll have plenty of time to cool the apparatus down through the night. It's also noted in the books there is a rather massive flow of air from the poles towards the equator, bringing lots of cold air, so it's not clear exactly how hot the regions where the books take place are. Finally, the suits do lose water. They're just more efficient than humans.
– Luaan
Apr 21 at 15:20
1
@Luaan No, the suits are described as 'gray' and 'slick' multiple times in the books. For example: "Paul saw the contents of the mound exposed: the pale glistening gray of a stillsuit, a battered literjon, a kerchief with a small book in its center"
– James
Apr 21 at 22:01
1
@Luaan Also, Dune was very hot in the books. It's mentioned several times. That's part of the reason they often travel at night.
– James
Apr 21 at 22:07
add a comment |
4
Desert doesn't mean hot. It means little rain. Many regions on Arrakis are hot during the day, but they also get very cold as the sun goes down; keep out of the sun (the book's suits were white, unlike all the movies), "ration" your heat, and you'll have plenty of time to cool the apparatus down through the night. It's also noted in the books there is a rather massive flow of air from the poles towards the equator, bringing lots of cold air, so it's not clear exactly how hot the regions where the books take place are. Finally, the suits do lose water. They're just more efficient than humans.
– Luaan
Apr 21 at 15:20
1
@Luaan No, the suits are described as 'gray' and 'slick' multiple times in the books. For example: "Paul saw the contents of the mound exposed: the pale glistening gray of a stillsuit, a battered literjon, a kerchief with a small book in its center"
– James
Apr 21 at 22:01
1
@Luaan Also, Dune was very hot in the books. It's mentioned several times. That's part of the reason they often travel at night.
– James
Apr 21 at 22:07
4
4
Desert doesn't mean hot. It means little rain. Many regions on Arrakis are hot during the day, but they also get very cold as the sun goes down; keep out of the sun (the book's suits were white, unlike all the movies), "ration" your heat, and you'll have plenty of time to cool the apparatus down through the night. It's also noted in the books there is a rather massive flow of air from the poles towards the equator, bringing lots of cold air, so it's not clear exactly how hot the regions where the books take place are. Finally, the suits do lose water. They're just more efficient than humans.
– Luaan
Apr 21 at 15:20
Desert doesn't mean hot. It means little rain. Many regions on Arrakis are hot during the day, but they also get very cold as the sun goes down; keep out of the sun (the book's suits were white, unlike all the movies), "ration" your heat, and you'll have plenty of time to cool the apparatus down through the night. It's also noted in the books there is a rather massive flow of air from the poles towards the equator, bringing lots of cold air, so it's not clear exactly how hot the regions where the books take place are. Finally, the suits do lose water. They're just more efficient than humans.
– Luaan
Apr 21 at 15:20
1
1
@Luaan No, the suits are described as 'gray' and 'slick' multiple times in the books. For example: "Paul saw the contents of the mound exposed: the pale glistening gray of a stillsuit, a battered literjon, a kerchief with a small book in its center"
– James
Apr 21 at 22:01
@Luaan No, the suits are described as 'gray' and 'slick' multiple times in the books. For example: "Paul saw the contents of the mound exposed: the pale glistening gray of a stillsuit, a battered literjon, a kerchief with a small book in its center"
– James
Apr 21 at 22:01
1
1
@Luaan Also, Dune was very hot in the books. It's mentioned several times. That's part of the reason they often travel at night.
– James
Apr 21 at 22:07
@Luaan Also, Dune was very hot in the books. It's mentioned several times. That's part of the reason they often travel at night.
– James
Apr 21 at 22:07
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
Sweat is still allowed to cool the body before it's captured by the suit.
“Certainly,” Kynes said. He felt up under the robe for the shoulder
seals, speaking as he examined the suit. “It’s basically a
micro-sandwich—a high-efficiency filter and heat-exchange system.” He
adjusted the shoulder seals. “The skin-contact layer’s porous.
Perspiration passes through it, having cooled the body… near-normal
evaporation process. The next two layers…” Kynes tightened the chest
fit. “… include heat exchange filaments and salt precipitators. Salt’s
reclaimed.”
Dune
answered Apr 21 at 7:28
ValorumValorum
418k11430393263
6
That addresses where the vapor goes, if the idea is that the suit catches vapor. But it also defeats the whole point of evaporation, since capturing vapor also captures its kinetic energy. In other words, if the vapor isn't lost, the heat isn't lost either.
– Misha R
Apr 21 at 8:35
17
@MishaR - I didn't write the thing. Go yell at Frank Herbert('s grave).
– Valorum
Apr 21 at 8:43
4
I am not saying that this isn't the best answer available. But not everything in sci fi is hand-waving, so it's useful to acknowledge it. As far as Dune goes, it's an answer. As far as real life goes, it isn't.
– Misha R
Apr 21 at 8:53
3
@MishaR - The stillsuit itself relies on fantastical tech. Within minutes the suit would (IRL) be filled with dirt and grime and poop.
– Valorum
Apr 21 at 8:55
9
@MishaR - I interpreted the reference to "heat exchange filaments" as indicating that there's some process to conduct heat to the outside of the suit.
– Adamant
Apr 21 at 9:17
|
show 5 more comments
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1 Answer
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oldest
votes
Sweat is still allowed to cool the body before it's captured by the suit.
“Certainly,” Kynes said. He felt up under the robe for the shoulder
seals, speaking as he examined the suit. “It’s basically a
micro-sandwich—a high-efficiency filter and heat-exchange system.” He
adjusted the shoulder seals. “The skin-contact layer’s porous.
Perspiration passes through it, having cooled the body… near-normal
evaporation process. The next two layers…” Kynes tightened the chest
fit. “… include heat exchange filaments and salt precipitators. Salt’s
reclaimed.”
Dune
answered Apr 21 at 7:28
ValorumValorum
418k11430393263
6
That addresses where the vapor goes, if the idea is that the suit catches vapor. But it also defeats the whole point of evaporation, since capturing vapor also captures its kinetic energy. In other words, if the vapor isn't lost, the heat isn't lost either.
– Misha R
Apr 21 at 8:35
17
@MishaR - I didn't write the thing. Go yell at Frank Herbert('s grave).
– Valorum
Apr 21 at 8:43
4
I am not saying that this isn't the best answer available. But not everything in sci fi is hand-waving, so it's useful to acknowledge it. As far as Dune goes, it's an answer. As far as real life goes, it isn't.
– Misha R
Apr 21 at 8:53
3
@MishaR - The stillsuit itself relies on fantastical tech. Within minutes the suit would (IRL) be filled with dirt and grime and poop.
– Valorum
Apr 21 at 8:55
9
@MishaR - I interpreted the reference to "heat exchange filaments" as indicating that there's some process to conduct heat to the outside of the suit.
– Adamant
Apr 21 at 9:17
|
show 5 more comments
Sweat is still allowed to cool the body before it's captured by the suit.
“Certainly,” Kynes said. He felt up under the robe for the shoulder
seals, speaking as he examined the suit. “It’s basically a
micro-sandwich—a high-efficiency filter and heat-exchange system.” He
adjusted the shoulder seals. “The skin-contact layer’s porous.
Perspiration passes through it, having cooled the body… near-normal
evaporation process. The next two layers…” Kynes tightened the chest
fit. “… include heat exchange filaments and salt precipitators. Salt’s
reclaimed.”
Dune
answered Apr 21 at 7:28
ValorumValorum
418k11430393263
6
That addresses where the vapor goes, if the idea is that the suit catches vapor. But it also defeats the whole point of evaporation, since capturing vapor also captures its kinetic energy. In other words, if the vapor isn't lost, the heat isn't lost either.
– Misha R
Apr 21 at 8:35
17
@MishaR - I didn't write the thing. Go yell at Frank Herbert('s grave).
– Valorum
Apr 21 at 8:43
4
I am not saying that this isn't the best answer available. But not everything in sci fi is hand-waving, so it's useful to acknowledge it. As far as Dune goes, it's an answer. As far as real life goes, it isn't.
– Misha R
Apr 21 at 8:53
3
@MishaR - The stillsuit itself relies on fantastical tech. Within minutes the suit would (IRL) be filled with dirt and grime and poop.
– Valorum
Apr 21 at 8:55
9
@MishaR - I interpreted the reference to "heat exchange filaments" as indicating that there's some process to conduct heat to the outside of the suit.
– Adamant
Apr 21 at 9:17
|
show 5 more comments
Sweat is still allowed to cool the body before it's captured by the suit.
“Certainly,” Kynes said. He felt up under the robe for the shoulder
seals, speaking as he examined the suit. “It’s basically a
micro-sandwich—a high-efficiency filter and heat-exchange system.” He
adjusted the shoulder seals. “The skin-contact layer’s porous.
Perspiration passes through it, having cooled the body… near-normal
evaporation process. The next two layers…” Kynes tightened the chest
fit. “… include heat exchange filaments and salt precipitators. Salt’s
reclaimed.”
Dune
answered Apr 21 at 7:28
ValorumValorum
418k11430393263
Sweat is still allowed to cool the body before it's captured by the suit.
“Certainly,” Kynes said. He felt up under the robe for the shoulder
seals, speaking as he examined the suit. “It’s basically a
micro-sandwich—a high-efficiency filter and heat-exchange system.” He
adjusted the shoulder seals. “The skin-contact layer’s porous.
Perspiration passes through it, having cooled the body… near-normal
evaporation process. The next two layers…” Kynes tightened the chest
fit. “… include heat exchange filaments and salt precipitators. Salt’s
reclaimed.”
Dune
answered Apr 21 at 7:28
ValorumValorum
418k11430393263
answered Apr 21 at 7:28
ValorumValorum
418k11430393263
answered Apr 21 at 7:28
ValorumValorum
418k11430393263
answered Apr 21 at 7:28
ValorumValorum
418k11430393263
418k11430393263
6
That addresses where the vapor goes, if the idea is that the suit catches vapor. But it also defeats the whole point of evaporation, since capturing vapor also captures its kinetic energy. In other words, if the vapor isn't lost, the heat isn't lost either.
– Misha R
Apr 21 at 8:35
17
@MishaR - I didn't write the thing. Go yell at Frank Herbert('s grave).
– Valorum
Apr 21 at 8:43
4
I am not saying that this isn't the best answer available. But not everything in sci fi is hand-waving, so it's useful to acknowledge it. As far as Dune goes, it's an answer. As far as real life goes, it isn't.
– Misha R
Apr 21 at 8:53
3
@MishaR - The stillsuit itself relies on fantastical tech. Within minutes the suit would (IRL) be filled with dirt and grime and poop.
– Valorum
Apr 21 at 8:55
9
@MishaR - I interpreted the reference to "heat exchange filaments" as indicating that there's some process to conduct heat to the outside of the suit.
– Adamant
Apr 21 at 9:17
|
show 5 more comments
6
That addresses where the vapor goes, if the idea is that the suit catches vapor. But it also defeats the whole point of evaporation, since capturing vapor also captures its kinetic energy. In other words, if the vapor isn't lost, the heat isn't lost either.
– Misha R
Apr 21 at 8:35
17
@MishaR - I didn't write the thing. Go yell at Frank Herbert('s grave).
– Valorum
Apr 21 at 8:43
4
I am not saying that this isn't the best answer available. But not everything in sci fi is hand-waving, so it's useful to acknowledge it. As far as Dune goes, it's an answer. As far as real life goes, it isn't.
– Misha R
Apr 21 at 8:53
3
@MishaR - The stillsuit itself relies on fantastical tech. Within minutes the suit would (IRL) be filled with dirt and grime and poop.
– Valorum
Apr 21 at 8:55
9
@MishaR - I interpreted the reference to "heat exchange filaments" as indicating that there's some process to conduct heat to the outside of the suit.
– Adamant
Apr 21 at 9:17
6
6
That addresses where the vapor goes, if the idea is that the suit catches vapor. But it also defeats the whole point of evaporation, since capturing vapor also captures its kinetic energy. In other words, if the vapor isn't lost, the heat isn't lost either.
– Misha R
Apr 21 at 8:35
That addresses where the vapor goes, if the idea is that the suit catches vapor. But it also defeats the whole point of evaporation, since capturing vapor also captures its kinetic energy. In other words, if the vapor isn't lost, the heat isn't lost either.
– Misha R
Apr 21 at 8:35
17
17
@MishaR - I didn't write the thing. Go yell at Frank Herbert('s grave).
– Valorum
Apr 21 at 8:43
@MishaR - I didn't write the thing. Go yell at Frank Herbert('s grave).
– Valorum
Apr 21 at 8:43
4
4
I am not saying that this isn't the best answer available. But not everything in sci fi is hand-waving, so it's useful to acknowledge it. As far as Dune goes, it's an answer. As far as real life goes, it isn't.
– Misha R
Apr 21 at 8:53
I am not saying that this isn't the best answer available. But not everything in sci fi is hand-waving, so it's useful to acknowledge it. As far as Dune goes, it's an answer. As far as real life goes, it isn't.
– Misha R
Apr 21 at 8:53
3
3
@MishaR - The stillsuit itself relies on fantastical tech. Within minutes the suit would (IRL) be filled with dirt and grime and poop.
– Valorum
Apr 21 at 8:55
@MishaR - The stillsuit itself relies on fantastical tech. Within minutes the suit would (IRL) be filled with dirt and grime and poop.
– Valorum
Apr 21 at 8:55
9
9
@MishaR - I interpreted the reference to "heat exchange filaments" as indicating that there's some process to conduct heat to the outside of the suit.
– Adamant
Apr 21 at 9:17
@MishaR - I interpreted the reference to "heat exchange filaments" as indicating that there's some process to conduct heat to the outside of the suit.
– Adamant
Apr 21 at 9:17
|
show 5 more comments
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4
Desert doesn't mean hot. It means little rain. Many regions on Arrakis are hot during the day, but they also get very cold as the sun goes down; keep out of the sun (the book's suits were white, unlike all the movies), "ration" your heat, and you'll have plenty of time to cool the apparatus down through the night. It's also noted in the books there is a rather massive flow of air from the poles towards the equator, bringing lots of cold air, so it's not clear exactly how hot the regions where the books take place are. Finally, the suits do lose water. They're just more efficient than humans.
– Luaan
Apr 21 at 15:20
1
@Luaan No, the suits are described as 'gray' and 'slick' multiple times in the books. For example: "Paul saw the contents of the mound exposed: the pale glistening gray of a stillsuit, a battered literjon, a kerchief with a small book in its center"
– James
Apr 21 at 22:01
1
@Luaan Also, Dune was very hot in the books. It's mentioned several times. That's part of the reason they often travel at night.
– James
Apr 21 at 22:07