23-12-2010, 01:13 PM
Prepared by::Shashikumar C.M
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INTRODUCTION
The major concern in the selection of the proper insulation for a cryogenic system is the reduction in the heat leak.
The insulation strategy is to minimize the radiative heat transfer, minimize the convective heat transfer, and introduce a minimum of solid conductance media
MODES OF HEAT TRANSFER
Solid conduction
Gas convection and conduction
Radiation
FACTORS CONSIDERED IN THE SELECTION OF THE INSULATION
Thermal Effectiveness ,Cost
Ruggedness
Volume Required
Ease Of Fabrication
Mass Involved
Handling
TYPES OF INSULATION
Vacuum insulation
Powder insulation
Foam and fiber insulation
Multi layer insulation
VACCUM INSULATION
The use of floating shields within the vacuum space between the warm and cold surfaces of a storage dewar or cryogenic engineering container involves one modification in this type of insulation system that has been considered
Another improvement in vacuum insulation has been the search for specialized polymers or paints that can be used to reduce the emissivity that exists between the warm and cold surfaces of these cryogenic systems.
POWDER INSULATION
The primary characterization of most powder insulations includes lowthermal conductivity,low density, and particle size distribution to reduce shock and vibrationeffects.
Powders have been used either in an evacuated or nonevacuated mode.
POWDER INSULATION
In most cases, the small particle size of the powder limits the gaseous heat transfer in evacuated powders to free molecular conduction.
Often, the heat transfer by the residual gas is further reduced by the lower vapor pressure of the powder itself.
The powders widely used at cryogenic temperatures include
perlite,
colloidal silica and
silica aerogel.
Other powders occasionally used are
Mica,
Diatomaceous Earth,
Carbon, Calcium,
Silicate, And
Plastic Or Glass Microspheres.
Evacuated Powders and Fibrous Insulations
To decrease the thermal conductivity of nonevacuated powders and fibrous insulations is to reduce the residual gas pressure in the insulation space.
The effect of this reduction in gas pressure on the apparent thermal conductivity of several powder insulations
MICROSPHERE INSULATION
Cryogenic insulation systems that employ glass microspheres in evacuated powder form offer significant advantages over traditional materials for many practical applications
The best insulation material for a cryogenic system is the one that offers the optimal combination of thermal performance, low cost, light weight, durability, and minimal or no maintenance
FOAM INSULATION
Cryogenic foam insulations, such as polystyrene and polyurethane, are produced by gaseous expansion of organic and inorganic solids.
The solid–gas mixture creates a low-density solid with many voids.
This relatively lower density, an order of magnitude less than that for powder insulations, results in a smaller heat transfer by solid conduction.
FIBER INSULATIONS
On the other hand, the cellular structure of the foam provides continuous paths by which more heat is conducted through the foam than in the powder insulations, where the inter particle contact areas are very small
MULTILAYER INSULATION
Multilayer insulation generally involves 30 to 80 layers of low-emittance radiation shields separated either by low-conductivity spacers or by crinkling or embossing the shields so that, when placed next to each other in the vacuum space, the shields only touch each other at a few discrete locations.
REFERENCES
Cryogenic Engineering by Thomas M.Flynn
Insulation Hand book by, Richard T. Bynum, JR
Cryogenic Engineering ,Klaus D. Timmerhaus, Rihard P Reed