Thermal insulation system for non-vacuum applications including a multilayer composite

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9617069-B2
Application number	US-201414203264-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2014
Priority date	Mar 11, 2013
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

The thermal insulation system of the present invention is for non-vacuum applications and is specifically tailored to the ambient pressure environment with any level of humidity or moisture. The thermal insulation system includes a multilayered composite including i) at least one thermal insulation layer and at least one compressible barrier layer provided as alternating, successive layers, and ii) at least one reflective film provided on at least one surface of the thermal insulation layer and/or said compressible barrier layer. The different layers and materials and their combinations are designed to provide low effective thermal conductivity for the system by managing all modes of heat transfer. The thermal insulation system includes an optional outer casing surrounding the multilayered composite. The thermal insulation system is particularly suited for use in any sub-ambient temperature environment where moisture or its adverse effects are a concern. The thermal insulation system provides physical resilience against damaging mechanical effects including compression, flexure, impact, vibration, and thermal expansion/contraction.

First claim

I claim:

1. A thermal insulation system for non-vacuum applications, comprising:
a) a multilayered composite having an inner surface and an outer surface including
i) at least one thermal insulation layer and at least one compressible barrier layer provided as alternating, successive layers, wherein each thermal insulation layer and compressible barrier layer is conformable to a three-dimensional surface of an article to be insulated, and
ii) at least one reflective film formed of a material selected from a group consisting of metal foils and metalized foils, wherein said reflective film is provided on at least one surface of said thermal insulation layer, said compressible barrier layer, or both, and

b) an optional outer casing surrounding said outer surface of said multilayered composites; wherein said thermal insulation system is breathable allowing for any accumulated internal water to be naturally drained and released over time according to normal thermal cycling operational processes.

2. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one compressible barrier layer is directly disposed on said at least one thermal insulation layer.

3. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said multilayered composite includes a plurality of thermal insulation layers provided in a successive, alternating pattern with a plurality of compressible barrier layers such that said thermal insulation layers and said compressible barrier layers are directly disposed upon each other without any intervening layers other than said reflective film.

4. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said inner surface of the multilayered composite is composed of at least one thermal insulation layer.

5. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein the number of thermal insulating layers is from 1 to 10.

6. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said thermal insulation layer includes an aerogel composite blanket.

7. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said thermal insulation layer is hydrophobic.

8. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said compressible barrier layer includes a flexible polymeric sealed air material.

9. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said compressible barrier layer is water-proof.

10. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said outer surface includes an outer compressible barrier layer having said reflective films directly disposed on at least one outer surface of said outer compressible barrier layer.

11. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said outer surface includes an outer insulation layer having said reflective film directly disposed on at least one outer surface of said outer thermal insulation layer.

12. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein each of said compressible barrier layers has an inner surface and an outer surface each provided as a reflective film.

13. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said thermal insulation system withstands mechanical impact or shock and is compressible to more than 50% of its thickness with full elastic recovery.

14. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said thermal insulation system withstands mechanical impact or shock and supports compressive loads of more than 15 psi with full elastic recovery if the load is removed.

15. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said optional outer casing is a breathable medium having a sufficiently low pore size to permit venting of gases and moisture from within the outer casing.

16. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said optional outer casing is an impermeable medium including cut slits or holes to permit venting of gases and moisture from within the optional outer casing.

17. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said thermal insulation system is externally applied to process piping or tanks for cold or hot applications.

18. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said multilayered composite is provided as a layer pair including only one thermal insulation layer directly disposed on only one compressible barrier layer.

19. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said thermal insulation system has an effective thermal conductivity in air of 10-50 mW/m-K.

20. The thermal insulation system of claim 19 , wherein said thermal insulation system has an effective thermal conductivity in air of 18-25 mW/m-K under ambient temperature conditions.

21. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said thermal insulation system is externally applied to process piping components for cold or hot applications.

22. The thermal insulation system of claim 21 , wherein said process piping components include components selected from the group consisting of valves, flanges, supports, and expansion joints.

23. The thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said thermal insulation system is provided as a removable insulation cover for process piping components for cold or hot applications.

24. The thermal insulation system of claim 23 , wherein said process piping components include components selected from the group consisting of valves, flanges, supports, and expansion joints.

25. A construction system comprising at least one large panel formed from said thermal insulation system of claim 1 , wherein said large flat panel is 4-10 feet long.

26. An insulated shipping container having a plurality of walls, wherein said plurality of walls are formed using said thermal insulation system of claim 25 .

27. A method for insulating without the use of vacuum, an article having an outer surface comprising,
providing the multilayered composite of claim 1 such that said at least one thermal insulation layer is directly disposed against the outer surface of the article.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein said at least one compressible barrier layer is directly disposed on said at least one thermal insulation layer.

29. The method of claim 27 , wherein said multilayered composite includes a plurality of thermal insulation layers provided in a successive, alternating pattern with a plurality of compressible barrier layers such that said thermal insulation layers and said compressible barrier layers are directly disposed upon each other without any intervening layers other than said reflective film.

30. The method of claim 27 , wherein the number of thermal insulating layers is from 1 to 10.

31. The method of claim 27 , wherein said thermal insulation layer includes an aerogel blanket.

32. The method of claim 27 , wherein said compressible barrier layer includes a flexible polymeric sealed air material.

33. The method of claim 27 , wherein said article is process piping or tanks for cold or hot applications.

34. The method of claim 27 , wherein said multilayered composite is provided as a layer pair including only one thermal insulation layer directly disposed on only one compressible barrier layer.

35. The method of claim 27 , wherein said article is a piping component for cold or hot applications.

36. The method of claim 35 , wherein said piping components is selected from the components consisting of valves, flanges, supports,

Assignees

• Us Adm
• Nasa

Inventors

• Fesmire James E

Classifications

• B32B2266/0278

  Polyurethane · CPC title

• F16L59/08

  Means for preventing radiation, e.g. with metal foil · CPC title

• B32B15/046

  of foam · CPC title

• B32B2307/7265

  Non-permeable · CPC title

• Y10T428/233

  Foamed or expanded material encased · CPC title