Life Support System (LSS)
A typical Life Support System (LSS) for Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV) is an integrated system providing several or all of the following functions:
- NBC Protection and Ventilation
- Climate Control: Air-Conditioning – Heating - Dehumidification
- Auxiliary Power
- Fire and Explosion Suppression System
- NBC Detection
NBC Protection and Ventilation:
The LSS provides ultimate NBC protection to the crew. Usually in three different protection modes + ventilation mode:
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Overpressure Protection: the crew compartment is overpressurized with filtered air allowing the crew to safely operate the vehicle without NBC facemasks.
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Collective Facemask Protection: the same filtration system that is used to for compartment overpressurization provides in this mode, filtered air to NBC facemask of each crewman (this air is also cooled / heated by the LSS).
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Hybrid Protection: This is a combined protection mode providing Overpressure + Collective Facemasks Protection. The Hybrid Protection is especially effective on Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) in preparation for opening of the vehicle rear ramp.
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Ventilation: In the Ventilation mode the NBC Filter is by-pass. The LSS provides constant fresh airflow into the vehicle. The fresh airflow is first cleaned from dust (using a maintenance free filter) and than cooled / heated / dehumidified before entering into the vehicle
Climate Control:
The LSS provides complete Conditioning (cooling / heating) of the NBC Facemask air, Compartment cooling and optionally also Compartment Heating and Dehumidification:
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Compartment Cooling: is typically offered for wheeled and tracked IFV, APC, CPV and other AFV that are rather lightweight and have large number of crewmen onboard. Typical cooling capacity for this system is 10-12kW. In this concept the entire crew compartment is cooled using recycled and fresh air.
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Compartment Heating (Optional): The LSS includes also a hot water radiator that is interfaced with an external Diesel Water Heater (e.g. WEBASTO or a similar one). The Crew Compartment is heated by circulating air through the Radiator using the Air-Conditioning Reticulating Blower and Air-Channels.
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Dehumidification (Optional): This mode is possible in LSS that includes Compartment Heating and it is very effective in winter operation while there is a need to dehumidify the crew compartment. The Compartment Cooling and Compartment Heating are operated simultaneously, thus the air is first cooled to condensate humidity and than heated up to a comfortable temperature.
Auxiliary Power Unit (APU):
Some LSSs are driven by mechanical, electrical or hydraulic power that is available in the vehicle. Other LSSs are completely independent; these systems have their own Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) to provide all the required power to run the LSS in addition to the power that is required for batteries charging and operation of other systems while the operates in Silent mode (main engine is off). The APUs are designed to operate at a very low noise level and thermal signature.
Fire and Explosion Suppression System (FESS):
Fire and Explosion Suppression System (FESS) is integrated in some LSS’s. The FESS is based on very well proven UV-IR fast detectors and suppression technology. The FESS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) is fully integrated with the LSS ECU thus offering weight and space claim saving as well as unique features such as automatic ventilation of the crew compartment following the operation of FESS.
NBC Detection:
Chemical Agent Monitor and Radiation Meter can be provided as fully integrated systems with the LSS offering the following unique advantages:
- Getting more accurate readings by sampling the air inside the LSS.
- Monitoring the effectiveness of the NBC Filter and possibly provide an alert to replace the NBC Filter.
- Automatic start of the NBC Protection System based on positive reading by the Chemical Agent Monitor.
Unique Features of Life Support Systems (LSS):
- Integrated system – one main LRU with one integrated control logic for NBC Protection, Climate Control, APU, Fire Suppression and NBC Detection.
- Self-Cleaning Heat-Exchangers. This unique technology allows the LSS to operate in extreme dust conditions without clogging. Since there is no paper dust filter in the system, there is no need to clean or replace filter.
- Service free system.
- All system are qualified to military standards, in production, in service and fully proven in field operation.
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