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Cited by 7Spacecraft and Cryogenic TechnologiesThermal properties of materialsSuperconducting Materials and Applications

Design of a multi-layer insulation(MLI) measurement system with a G-M cryocooler

Open access
Li, X., Xu, D., Shen, FZ., Liu, HM., Li, LF.·2019·IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering
DOI 10.1088/1757-899x/502/1/012075
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Abstract

Multi-layer insulation (MLI) is widely used in cryogenic systems such as Aerospace propulsion systems and various cryostats. The effective thermal conductivity of MLI used in lab is measured by typical systems using bath cryostat, which is only able to maintain boundary temperatures at critical point of cryogen. A liquid cryogen-free apparatus based on a two stage G-M cryocooler has been developed to measure the effective thermal conductivity of multi-layer insulation(MLI) materials at temperatures ranging from 20-300 K. Unlike traditional measurement systems utilizing evaporation rate of liquid cryogen, a calorimeter supported by a calibrated rod is installed in this system to determine the heat flow through the testing blanket. This design eliminates the error caused by variation of environment pressure to the measured evaporation rate, and meanwhile, simplifies the system structure.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

A liquid cryogen-free multi-layer insulation (MLI) measurement system was designed around a two-stage G-M cryocooler, using a calibrated rod to determine heat flow through the MLI blanket instead of cryogen evaporation rate. The paper reports design calculations and an estimated total measurement error of about 0.908%, but no MLI measurement data are yet presented.

Key findings

  • The system uses a two-stage G-M cryocooler and a calibrated rod to measure heat flow through MLI, eliminating errors from cryogen evaporation-rate measurement and allowing adjustable boundary temperatures.
  • The abstract states MLI can be measured at temperatures from 20–300 K; the conclusion instead states “10 K to ambient temperature,” so the reported range is inconsistent.
  • Calculated heat loads are 2.866 W total for the 1st-stage thermal shield (1.164 W support rods + 1.702 W radiation) and 0.241 W total for the cold cylinder and lids; the paper states these are below the available cooling capacities of 20 W at 50 K and about 13 W at 10 K, respectively.
  • The total measuring error is estimated at 0.908%, compared with about 4% for traditional cryogen-based measurement systems.

Methods

  • Design and experimental principle: a calorimeter with a calibrated rod measures heat flow through the tested MLI blanket; heat flux is calculated as \(q = Q/A\), where \(Q\) is heat load from the calibrated rod and \(A\) is MLI area.
  • System components: RDK-415D two-stage G-M cryocooler, 10⁻⁵ Pa vacuum chamber, OFHC copper thermal shields, cold boundary cylinder, lids, support rods, temperature sensors/controllers, and replaceable copper/aluminium calibrated rods.
  • Analysis: theoretical heat-load calculations for the 1st-stage thermal shield and cold cylinder/lids, plus error analysis based on manufacturer specifications; no experimental MLI results are reported.

Limitations

  • The paper states future work will calibrate the copper and aluminium rods, test MLI blankets with different kinds, boundary temperatures, densities, and other parameters, and publish experimental data later; therefore no MLI measurement results are yet available.
  • Evident from the text: the boundary temperature range is inconsistent (20–300 K in the abstract vs. 10 K to ambient in the conclusion), and the cryocooler cooling capacities are inconsistent (35 W @ 50 K and 1.5 W @ 4.2 K in the specifications vs. 20 W at 50 K and about 13 W at 10 K in the heat-load discussion).

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1088/1757-899x/502/1/012075

Cites

7 of 7 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

2 of 10 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Premisecitation
    § 1. Introduction · p. 2

    Systems designed for measuring effective thermal conductivity of MLI mostly use the rate of evaporation of a cryogen.

    “Systems designed for measuring effective thermal conductivity of MLI are mostly using the rate of evaporation of a cryogen [4,5,6,7].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [4] Vanderlaan M, 2017 source

      The Apparatus section describes this paper’s calorimeter as using a cryocooler rather than a cryogen, but does not say what most MLI measurement systems use. Searches for cryogen evaporation and boil-off measurement found no passage establishing the claimed prevalence; this apparatus could be an exception. (LLM, conf=0.76)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [5] source
    • cites [6] AIAA, 1991, 27th Joint Propulsion Conference

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [7] Witt R L D, 1971

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Findingown data
    § 4. Theoretical analysis of the heat load and errors analysis · p. 5

    The measuring error in this system mainly comes from temperature measurement and heating power measurement.

    “The measuring error in this system mainly comes from the temperature measurement and the heating power measurement.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data
    § 4. Theoretical analysis of the heat load and errors analysis · p. 5

    The total measuring error is about 0.908%.

    “It can be concluded from table 2 that the total measuring errors is about 0.908%.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingnone given
    § X. Li 1, 2 D. Xu 1,2 FZ. Shen 1,2 HM. Liu 1 and LF. Li 1, 2 · p. 2

    A liquid cryogen-free apparatus based on a two-stage G-M cryocooler has been developed to measure the effective thermal conductivity of MLI materials at temperatures ranging from 20-300 K.

    “A liquid cryogen-free apparatus based on a two stage G-M cryocooler has been developed to measure the effective thermal conductivity of multilayer insulation(MLI) materials at temperatures ranging from 20-300 K.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data
    § 4. Theoretical analysis of the heat load and errors analysis · p. 5

    The total heat load of the 1st stage thermal shield is 2.866 W.

    “The total heat load of 1 st stage thermal shield is 2.866 W”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 7
  • May combine two claims. 10

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § 1. Introduction · p. 2

    Multi-layer insulation is considered the most effective way of heat insulation in high vacuum cryogenic systems and is widely utilized in these systems.

    “Multi-layer insulation is considered as the most effective way of heat insulation in high vacuum cryogenic systems and is widely utilized in these systems [1,2,3].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [1] source
    • cites [2] source

      The Introduction (page unavailable) studies multi-layer insulation for heated enclosures, particularly reheating furnaces. Neither it nor the Conclusions (page unavailable) addresses high-vacuum cryogenic systems or says multi-layer insulation is their most effective or widely used option; searches for those terms found no supporting passage. (LLM, conf=0.77)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [3] Martin E T, 2012, Multi-layer Insulation[J]

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given
    § 4. Theoretical analysis of the heat load and errors analysis · p. 5

    The heat load for the 1st stage thermal shield is heat transfer through three austenite 304 stainless steel support rods and radiation from the vacuum chamber.

    “Heat load for the 1 st stage thermal shield is heat transfer through three austenite 304 stainless steel support rods and radiation from vacuum chamber.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Findingnone given
    § 5. Conclusion · p. 6

    A newly designed MLI measurement system cooled by a two-stage G-M cryocooler is introduced in this article.

    “A newly designed MLI (multi-layer insulation material) measurement system cooled by a two-stage G-M cryocooler is introduced in this article.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given
    § 1. Introduction · p. 3

    The heat flow through the measurement section is determined by a calibrated rod and the boundary temperatures are determined by the cold heads.

    “Different from cryogen systems that measuring the volume flow rate of evaporated liquid cryogen, the heat flow through the measurement section is determined by a calibrated rod and the boundary temperatures are determined by the cold heads.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given
    § 4. Theoretical analysis of the heat load and errors analysis · p. 6

    Statistical errors are reduced through placing more temperature sensors on the boundaries and taking values until equilibrium is obtained in the test.

    “The statistical errors are reduced through placing more temperature sensors on the boundaries and taking the values until an equilibrium obtained in the test.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § 4. Theoretical analysis of the heat load and errors analysis · p. 5

    The cold cylinder and the 1st stage thermal shield can reach below 10 K and 50 K at the experiment, respectively.

    “The cold cylinder and the 1 st stage thermal shield can reaches blow 10 K and 50 K at the experiment, respectively.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § 1. Introduction · p. 3

    This unique design enables variable boundary temperatures and eliminates the potential problems caused by cryogens.

    “This unique design enables a variable boundary temperatures and eliminates the potential problems caused by cryogens.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given
    § 4. Theoretical analysis of the heat load and errors analysis · p. 6

    Repetitive experiment is used to minimize statistical error.

    “Repetitive experiment is also used to minimize the statistical error.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation
    § 4. Theoretical analysis of the heat load and errors analysis · p. 5

    The system has superiority over traditional measurement systems based on cryogen, which have a measurement error about 4% due to large error from gas flow rate measurement.

    “This indicates the superiority over the traditional measurement systems based on cryogen, which have a measurement error about 4% [10]”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [10] Huang Y.H., 2012

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § 5. Conclusion · p. 6

    The temperatures of cold and warm boundary of this system are adjustable so that effective thermal conductivity test of MLI can be carried out at any set of temperature ranging from 10 K to ambient temperature, which is unreachable in traditional cryogen systems.

    “The temperatures of cold and warm boundary of this system are adjustable so that effective thermal conductivity test of MLI can be carried out at any set of temperature ranging from 10 K to ambient temperature, which is unreachable in traditional cryogen systems.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning
    § X. Li 1, 2 D. Xu 1,2 FZ. Shen 1,2 HM. Liu 1 and LF. Li 1, 2 · p. 2

    The design simplifies the system structure.

    “and meanwhile, simplifies the system structure.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given
    § 3. System design · p. 4

    Radiation from the vertical space results in a 3-dimensional heat transfer issue which complicates mathematical analysis and leads to greater error.

    “Radiation from the vertical space result in a 3-dimension heat transfer issue which complicates the mathematical analysis and leads to greater error.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § 4. Theoretical analysis of the heat load and errors analysis · p. 5

    The heat load for the cold cylinder is radiation from the 1st stage thermal shield, and it is the heat through the tested MLI blanket.

    “Cold cylinder suspended below the top lid which maintain at the same temperature with it, so that heat load for the cold cylinder is radiation from 1 st stage thermal shield, and it is the heat through tested MLI blanket.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given
    § 5. Conclusion · p. 6

    The structure of this system is simple compared with cryogen systems.

    “Additionally, the structure of this system is simple comparing with cryogen systems.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
14 of 14

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    MLI performance varies greatly with boundary temperatures, density, number of layers, and other situations.

    “However, the performance of MLI shows great difference in different situations, such as boundary temperatures, density, number of layers and other situations.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In cryogen-based measurement systems, cold boundary temperatures are determined by cryogen and cannot be regulated.

    “Although calorimeters filled with cryogens are more similar to the actual dewar, the cold boundary temperatures are determined by cryogen in these systems and cannot be regulated.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In cryogen-based systems, heat through MLI is calculated by evaporation rate, so atmospheric pressure influences the measurement result.

    “Moreover, the heat through the MLI is calculated by the evaporation rate, thus atmospheric pressure has an influence on the measuring result.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The cooling capacity of the 1st cold head at 50 K is 20 W.

    “the cooling capacity of the 1 st cold head at 50 K is 20 W”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The cooling capacity of the 2nd stage cold head at 10 K is about 13 W.

    “the cooling capacity of the 2 nd stage cold head at 10 K is about 13 W”
5 of 5

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Conflicting first-stage cooling capacities at 50 K

    Major

    The cryocooler specifications give a first-stage capacity of 35 W at 50 K, but the heat-load analysis gives 20 W at the same temperature.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Martin E T, 2012, Multi-layer Insulation[J]
  2. AIAA, 1991, 27th Joint Propulsion Conference

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Li, X., Xu, D., Shen, F., Liu, H., & Li, L.
Affiliations
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
Corresponding author
Xu, D.
ORCID
Venue
IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Published
2019-04-15
Volume
502
Pages
012075
ISSN
  • 1757-8981 (ISSN-L)
  • 1757-899X
DOI
10.1088/1757-899x/502/1/012075
OpenAlex
W2936485994
Semantic Scholar
f4a65e920bdcd78b73859f902159ae4dcd6d68fa
Cited by
7
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2019: 1
FWCI
0.91
Type
conference paper
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Thermal properties of materials
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Superconducting Materials and Applications
Keywords
multilayer insulation, effective thermal conductivity, Gifford-McMahon cryocooler, calorimeter, heat flux measurement, cryogenic insulation

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