Super Insulation Technology

CSM employs a specially designed radiation shield with an incredibly low emissivity coefficient (ε), which indicates its exceptional ability to minimize heat emission. This radiation shield is manufactured to be just a few micrometers thick, significantly reducing the absorption of radiation heat (Qr) into the cryogenic system.

Key benefits of multilayer super insulation:

  • Lesser boil-off of cryogenic fluid, faster investment payback
  • Elimimating two phase flow and avoiding liquid supply problem
  • More stable cryogenic fluid supply for the process

How it works:

While the radiation shield effectively reflects a portion of the radiation heat, it also absorbs and transmits some of the heat to the adjacent layers through solid conduction. To mitigate radial heat transfer between these adjacent layers of the radiation shield, we incorporate spacers. These spacers are made from our proprietary inorganic glass fiber material, which is both flame retardant and compatible for use with liquid oxygen, certified to meet US DOT MC-338 standards. The spacers are manufactured with a specific porosity that allows for the formation of an efficient thermal barrier in the form of interstitial vacuum spaces.

To ensure the highest quality and performance of our super insulation materials, we subject them to a meticulous degassing treatment process. This process involves subjecting the materials to extreme heat and ultra-high vacuum conditions, combined with cryogenic condensation procedures. Through this procedure, volatile hydrocarbons, moisture vapor, and lighter gas molecules are effectively removed.

The twin-layer super insulation material is then expertly applied to the process pipes using a semi-automatic wrapping machine, forming multiple layers of insulation. Careful control of the wrapping load guarantees a consistent bulk density of 25 layers/cm throughout the entire length of the pipe. To achieve the desired radiation heat barrier, more than 40 layers of the radiation shield are meticulously applied, based on our calculation model. Following this application, the product undergoes a high-temperature baking and ultra-high vacuum evacuation process to eliminate any remaining moisture and gas molecule residues from the annular space. The final outcome is a product with an extremely low apparent thermal conductivity (Kt) that is virtually free of heat leaks, thereby preventing costly boil-off of your cryogen.

 

Apparent Thermal Conductivity

To ensure precise heat leak calculations in cryogenic system design, we conduct tests to determine the thermal conductivity of MLI. This critical data enables accurate heat leak assessments, helping to minimize heat transfer and optimize system performance.

Request our white paper to explore how our product's heat leak performance compares to competitive technologies in the market, including detailed calculation and insights into its superior efficiency.

To read more about super insulation, click the blog post link Super Insulation Technology (csm-cryogenic.com)