Abstract
Storage vessel and cryostat design for modern cryogenic systems has become rather routine as the result of the wide use of and application of cryogenic fluids. Such vessels for these fluids range in size from 1 L flasks used in the laboratory for liquid nitrogen to the more than 200,000 m3 double-walled tanks used for temporary storage of liquefied natural gas before being transported overseas to their final destination. These storage vessels for cryogenic fluids range in type from low-performance containers insulated with rigid foam or fibrous insulation to high-performance containers insulated with evacuated multilayer insulations. The overriding factors in the type of container selected normally are of economics and safety. This paper will consider various insulation concepts used in such cryogenic storage systems and will review the progress that has been made over the past 50 years in these insulation systems.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Peterson, P., “Some Means To Improve the Vacuum Insulation of the Dewar Flask”, Sartryck ur TVF, 1958, p. 157.
Barron, R.F., Cryogenic Systems, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 1985.
Scott, R.B., Cryogenic Engineering, D. Van Nostrand, Princeton, NJ, 1959, pp. 143-206.
Allen, M.S., et al., “Advances in Microsphere Insulation Systems”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 49A, American Institute of Physics, New York, 2004, pp. 619–626.
Nusselt, W., and Bayer, Z., Revisions-ver, Nos. 13 and 14, 1913.
Johnson, C.L., and Hollweger, D.J., “Some Heat Transfer Considerations in Nonevacuated Cryogenic Powder Insulation”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 11, Plenum Press, New York, 1966, pp. 77–88.
Leonhardt, E.H., “Pressure Characteristics of Perlite Insulation in Double-Wall Tanks Under Repeated Thermal Cycling”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 15, Plenum Press, New York, 1990, pp. 343–345.
Cunnington, G.R., and Tien, C.L., “Apparent Thermal Conductivity of Uncoated Microsphere Cryogenic Insulation”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 22, Plenum Press, New York, 1977, pp. 263–270.
Fesmire, J.E., and Augustynowicz, S.D., “Thermal Performance Testing of Glass Microspheres Under Cryogenic Vacuum Conditions”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 49A, American Institute of Physics, New York, 2004, pp. 612–618.
Fulk, M.M., Devereax, R.J., and Schrodt, J.E., “Heat Transfer Through Powders”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 4, Plenum Press, New York, 1957, pp. 163–165.
Hunter, B.J., et al., “Metal Powder Additives in Evacuated-Powder Insulation”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 5, Plenum Press, New York, 1960, pp. 146–156.
Xu, L., Gu, A.Z., Wang, R.S., and Li, S.M., “The Effects of Vibration on the Performance of Perlite Vacuum Insulation”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 41A, Plenum Press, New York, 1996, pp. 109–116.
Gruszcznski, M.J., et al., “Development and Test of a Liquid Hydrogen Propellant Tank Foam Insulation”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Plenum Press, New York, 1992, pp. 293–298.
Yamaguchi, M., Takahashi, K., and Ohmori, T., “Thermal Conductivty of Polyurethane Foam at Liquid Hydrogen Temperature Region”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 41A, Plenum Press, New York, 1996, pp. 117–122.
Christiansen, R.M., Hollingsworth, M., and Marsh, H.N., “Low-Temperature Insulation Systems”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 5, Plenum Press, New York, 1960, pp. 171–178.
Ohmori, T., et al., “Thermal Performance of Candidate SSC Magnet Thermal Insulation Systems”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 33, Plenum Press, New York, 1988, pp. 323–331.
Cunnington, G.R., Keller, C.W., and Bell, G.A., “Thermal Performance of Multilayer Insulations”, NASA-CR 72605, 1971.
Cunnington, R., “Reducing Boiloff Losses in Cryogenic Storage Systems to the Minimum”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 29, Plenum Press, New York, 1984, pp. 767–776.
Jacob, S., “Multilayer Insulation in Cryoequipment—A Study of Reference Literature”, KfK 5165, 1993-3.
Bell, G.A., Nast, T.C., and Wedel, R.K., “Thermal Performance of Multilayer Insulation Applied to Small Cryogenic Tankage”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 22, Plenum Press, New York, 1977, pp. 272–282.
Boroski, W.N., et al., “Thermal Performance of Various Multilayer Insulation Systems Below 80K”, Supercollider 4, Plenum Press, New York, 1991.
Shu, Q.S., Fast, R.W., and Hart, H.L., “An Experimental Study of Heat Transfer in Multilayer Insulation System from Room Temperature to 77K”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 31, Plenum Press, New York, 1986, pp. 455–463.
Gonczy, J.D., Boroski, W.M., and Nieman, R.C., “Thermal Performance Measurements of a 100 Percent Polyester MLI System For the Superconducting Super Collider: Part II: Laboratory Results (30K–80K)”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 35A, Plenum Press, New York, 1990, pp. 497–506.
Getmanets, V.F., et al., “Cryogenic Superinsulations with Increased Efficiency”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 43B, Plenum Press, New York, 1998, pp. 1319–1325.
Mikhalchenko, R.S., et al., “New Efficient Composite Superinsulations”, Cryogenics, 32(ICMC Supplement) 60, 1992.
Mikhalchenko, R.S., et al., “Study of Heat Transfer in Multilayer Insulations Based on Composite Space Materials”, Cryogenics, 23, 309, 1983.
Glassford, A.P.M., and Lin, C.K., “Outgassing Rate of Multilayer Insulation Materials at Ambient Temperature”, J. Vac. Sci Technol., 17(3) 696, 1980.
Scurlock, R.G., and Sault, B., “Development of Multilayer Insulations with Thermal Conductivities Below 0.1 μW/cm K”, Cryogenics, 16, 303, 1976.
Ohmori, T., Nakajama, M., Yamomoto, A., and Takahashi, K., “Lightweight Multilayer Insulation to Reduce the Self-Compression of Insulation Films”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 47B, American Institute of Physics, New York, 2002, pp. 1565–1572.
Green, M.A., “Heat Transfer Through a Multilayer Insulation System as a Function of Pressure in the Cryostat Vacuum Space”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 43B, Plenum Press, New York, 1998, pp. 1313–1318.
McIntosh, G.E., “Layer by Layer MLI Calculations Using a Separated Mode Equation”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 39B, Plenum Press, New York, 1994, pp. 1683–1690.
Nedayat, A., Hastings, L.J., and Brown, T., “Analytical Modeling of Variable Density Multilayer Insulation for Cryogenic Storage”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 47B, American Institute of Physics, New York, 2002, pp. 1557–1564.
Stochl, R.J., et al., “Variable Density MLI Test Results”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 41A, Plenum Press, New York, 1996, pp. 101–107.
Leung, E.M.W., et al., “Techniques for Reducing Radiation Heat Transfer Between 77 and 4.2 K”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 25, Plenum Press, New York, 1980, pp. 489–499.
Spradley, I.E., Nast, T.C., and Frank, D.J., “Experimental Studies of MLI Systems at Very Low Boundary Temperature”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 35A, Plenum Press, New York, 1990, pp. 477–486.
Shu, Q.S., Fast, R.W., and Hart, H.L., “Theory and Technique For Reducing the Effect of Cracks in Multilayer Insulation from Room Temperature to 77 K”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 33, Plenum Press, New York, 1988, pp. 291–298.
Lindquist, C.R., and Niendorf, L.R., “Experimental Performance of Model Liquid-Hydrogen Space Tankage with a Compressible Superinsulation”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 8, Plenum Press, New York, 1963, pp. 398–403.
Black, I.A., and Glaser, P.E., “Effects of Compressive Loads on the Heat Flux Through Multilayer Insulation”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 11, Plenum Press, New York, 1966, pp. 26–34.
Vliet, G.C., and Coston, R.M., “Thermal Energy Transport Parallel to the Laminations in Multilayer Insulation”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 13, Plenum Press, New York, 1968, pp. 671–679.
Tien, C.L., Jagannathau, P.S., and Chan, C.K., “Lateral Heat Transfer in Cryogenic Multilayer Insulation”, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, Vol. 18, Plenum Press, New York, 1973, pp. 118–123.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Springer
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Timmerhaus, K. (2007). Insulation Progress since the Mid-1950s. In: Timmerhaus, K.D., Reed, R.P. (eds) Cryogenic Engineering. International Cryogenics Monograph Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-46896-X_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-46896-X_6
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-33324-3
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-46896-9
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)