by Spc Yolanda Moreno Leon
138th MPAD
MOSUL, Iraq (September 10 2006) –With the intense heat of summer in Iraq, radar systems were overheating daily, getting the equipment repaired took time and the cost was excessive until one Soldier came up with a way to solve the problem.
They were overheating daily until Spc. Steven Head, 1st Battalion, 265th Air Defense Artillery, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, found to attaching an air conditioning unit to the outside of the radar system to kept them cool, possibly saving the Army millions of dollars.
"I was trying to come up with a solution to save our radar systems from becoming unserviceable," said Head. "The invention has worked very well. The temperature on the roof is about 140 degree and now with this extra house for the air conditioner, the temperature inside the radar unit is 86 degree."
Head calls his system the Extreme Weather Climate Control Unit. His boss and the people he works with have been very supportive. They have made sure that everything was done right to be submitted to the Army.
"I have submitted the final project to the Army last week and I am still waiting for a response. The Army is reviewing the project right now," said Head. "If the Army agrees with what I am saying is correct, and they are saving over a million dollars in parts, then that's $65 million dollars a year because there are 65 radar systems in the Army."
Head admits he is not the first person to try and figure out a way to keep the units cooler. Other Soldiers have tried hanging an air conditioners using 550 cord, but that didn't work at all. Head decided to speak to some welders and put together a unit that is a steel proto type that is attached to the radar itself.
Head feels his invention has worked in the hot heat of Iraq, he is sure that it will work anywhere.
"Ever since my invention the radar is still up and running," said Head. "The radar systems are not overheating anymore and they are less likely to get damaged, making my job easier."
| Date Taken: | 09.10.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 09.13.2006 09:03 |
| Story ID: | 7717 |
| Location: | MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 89 |
| Downloads: | 27 |
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