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Cited by 33Spacecraft and Cryogenic TechnologiesAerogels and thermal insulationThermal properties of materials

CRYOGENIC THERMAL PERFORMANCE TESTING OF BULK-FILL AND AEROGEL INSULATION MATERIALS

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Scholtens, B. E., Fesmire, J. E., Sass, J. P., Augustynowicz, S. D., Heckle, K. W., Weisend, J. G., Barclay, John, Breon, Susan +12 more·2008·AIP Conference Proceedings
DOI 10.1063/1.2908517
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Abstract

Thermal conductivity testing under actual-use conditions is a key to understanding how cryogenic thermal insulation systems perform in regard to engineering, economics, and materials factors.The Cryogenics Test Laboratory at NASA's Kennedy Space Center tested a number of bulk-fill insulation materials, including aerogel beads, glass bubbles, and perlite powder, using a new cylindrical cryostat.Boundary temperatures for the liquid nitrogen boiloff method were 78 K and 293 K. Tests were performed as a function of cold vacuum pressure under conditions ranging from high vacuum to no vacuum.Results were compared with those from complementary test methods in the range of 20 K to 300 K. Various testing techniques are required to completely understand the operating performance of a material and to provide data for answers to design engineering questions.

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Crossref · 10.1063/1.2908517

Cites

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  • For the conductivity versus pressure data from another literature source, the single-pore model predicts the two asymptotic behaviors but contains error near the transition pressure.

    “It can easily be seen from Fig. 12 that whereas single-pore model predicts the two asymptotic behaviors, it contains error in prediction near the transition pressure.”

    From Effective thermal conductivity of insulation materials for cryogenic LH2 storage tanks: A review (2023) · cites this paper as [77]

    The Test Results section (Figure 3; page unavailable) reports apparent thermal conductivity versus cold vacuum pressure, so the paper can serve as a source of those data. Our copy does not evaluate a single-pore model or say that it predicts the asymptotic behaviors but errs near the transition pressure; searches for those model terms found no such passage. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Scholtens et al. and Fesmire et al. reported conductivity data at various vacuum levels but only at an average temperature of 185 K and lack temperature variation.

    “Similarly, Scholtens et al. [77] and Fesmire et al. [32] have reported the conductivity data at various vacuum levels but only at an average temperature of 185 K and lack the temperature variation.”

    From Effective thermal conductivity of insulation materials for cryogenic LH2 storage tanks: A review (2023) · cites this paper as [77]

    The Test Results show conductivity measured across vacuum pressures, with boundary temperatures of approximately 78 K and 293 K rather than a series of mean temperatures. The Cryostat-100 Test Apparatus and Method section states a mean test temperature of 186 K, not the claimed 185 K (page unavailable in our copy). (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Aerogel powders may belong to the category of materials with dual porosities.

    “Aerogel powders may belong to this category, where measured conductivities [77] at 185 K and various vacuum levels are shown in Fig. 15.”

    From Effective thermal conductivity of insulation materials for cryogenic LH2 storage tanks: A review (2023) · cites this paper as [77]

    The Test Results (Figure 3; page unavailable) report aerogel-bead conductivity across vacuum pressures, with boundary temperatures of approximately 78 K and 293 K (a mean of about 185 K). The paper does not identify aerogel powders as having dual porosities; that classification is the citing authors’ suggestion, while the citation is attached to the conductivity measurements. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Other evacuated insulation systems (e.g., perlite powder, glass bubbles, foams, aerogels) can provide heat flux values in the range of approximately 7-20 W/m2 in vacuum for typical boundary conditions of 300 K and 77 K.

    “Other evacuated insulation systems include, for example, perlite powder, glass bubbles, foams, aerogels, which can provide heat fl ux values in the range of approximately 7 -20 W/m 2 (in vacuum) for typical boundary conditions of 300 K and 77 K [1 -3].”

    From Cylindrical cryogenic calorimeter testing of six types of multilayer insulation systems (2018) · cites this paper as [1]

    Figure 4 (Test Results; page not provided) reports heat fluxes of approximately 7–20 W/m² at some vacuum pressures for glass bubbles, perlite powder, and aerogel beads, with boundary temperatures of about 293 K and 78 K. The paper tests those three materials, not foams, so it does not support the claim’s inclusion of foams in that performance range. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. Fesmire, J.E. and Augustynowicz, S.D, "Thermal Performance Testing of Glass Microspheres Under Cryogenic-Vacuum Conditions," m Advances in Cryogenic Engineering 49, edited by J. Waynert et al.. Plenum, New York, 2004, pp. 612-618.
  2. Fesmire, J.E., Augustynowicz, S.D., and Rouanet, S., "Aerogel Beads as Cryogenic Thermal Insulation System," in Advances in Cryogenic Engineering 47, edited by S. Breon et al.. Plenum, New York, 2002, pp. 1541-1548.
  3. Fesmire, J.E., Morris, D.L., Augustynowicz, S.D., Nagy, Z.F., and Sojourner, S.J., "Vibration and Thermal Cycling Effects on Bulk-Fill Insulation Materials for Cryogenic Tanks," m Advances in Cryogenic Engineering 51B, edited by J.G. Weisend et al.. Plenum, New York, 2006, pp. 1359-1366.
  4. Cunnington, G.R. and Tien, C.L., "Apparent Thermal Conductivity of Uncoated Microsphere Cryogenic Insulation," in Advances in Cryogenic Engineering 22, ed. K.D. Timmerhaus, Plenum, New York, 1977, pp. 263-271.
  5. Fulk, M.M., "Evacuated Powder Insulation for Low Temperatures," m Progress in Cryogenics 1, Academic Press, New York, 1959, pp. 65-84.
  6. Kropschot, R.H. and Burgess, R.W., "Perlite for Cryogenic Insulation," in Proceedings of the 1962 Cryogenic Engineering Conference, ed. K.D. Timmerhaus, University of California, Los Angeles., 1963, pp. 425-436.
  7. Rettelbach, T., Sauberlich, J., Korder, S., and Fricke, J., "Thermal Conductivity of IR-Opacified Silica Aerogel Powders Between lOK and 275K," in Journal of Physics D, Applied Physics 28, 1995, pp. 581-587.

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Authors
Scholtens, B. E., Fesmire, J. E., Sass, J. P., Augustynowicz, S. D., Heckle, K. W., Weisend, J. G., Barclay, J., Breon, S., Demko, J., DiPirro, M., Kelley, J. P., Kittel, P., Klebaner, A., Zeller, A., Zagarola, M., Van Sciver, S., Rowe, A., Pfotenhauer, J., Peterson, T., & Lock, J.
Affiliations
Kennedy Space Center (US)
ORCID
Venue
AIP Conference Proceedings
Publisher
AIP
Published
2008
Volume
985
Pages
152-159
ISSN
0094-243X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1063/1.2908517
OpenAlex
W1669587661
Cited by
33
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
FWCI
2.60
Type
conference paper
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • AIP conference proceedings (publishedVersion)
  • NASA STI Repository (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Spectroscopy › Aerogels and thermal insulation
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Thermal properties of materials
Keywords
cryogenic insulation, thermal conductivity, hollow glass microspheres

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