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5710 Flatiron Parkway, Suite A |
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Boulder, CO 80301 |
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Call : (303) 443-2262 |
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FAX : (303) 443-1821 |
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Microsphere Insulation Panels (MIP) |
 Microsphere Insulation Panels
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Technology Applications, Inc. (TAI) has developed an evacuated Microsphere Insulation Panel (MIP) system to meet NASA and commercial requirements for an insulation system that will provide lifecycle cost and thermal performance advantages over current technology. TAI has worked with NASA regarding microspheres as a cryogenic insulation and we currently hold U.S. patent 6,858,280 for this application.
Microsphere insulation, which consists of hollow glass bubbles, combines in a single material the desirable properties that other insulations only have individually. MIP provides efficient storage and transfer of cryogens and cryogenic propellants in space and terrestrial environments. MIP consists of vacuum-tight microsphere-filled panels configured to any shape and are ideal for field and retrofit installations.
MIP is lightweight, significantly outperforms foams, is less maintenance intensive and costs less compared to MLI, is easily applied, withstands unlimited thermal cycles, and can accommodate complex geometries and shapes.
The primary components of the MIP have been optimized to balance excellent thermal performance with low cost. Panel materials have been chosen with an emphasis on proven application at cryogenic temperatures and vacuum conditions, common availability, and established fabrication practices. The versatility of MIP permits the design configuration to be optimized for the specific application, therefore allowing variation in the design parameters in order to achieve explicit project objectives.
Applications (but not limited to):
Space vehicles.
Aircraft.
Donor organ transport containers.
Scientific freezers & ovens.
Cryogen systems.
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Cryogen transfer & vent lines for:
Air seperation units.
Cold boxes.
Cryogen storage tanks.
Cryogen ship tankers.
Cryogen truck trailers. |
Microsphere insulation panels combine ruggedness, low mass, ease of application (including field installation), good thermal performance, low life-cycle cost, little to no maintenance, and can be configured to accomodate complex shapes and geometries. The current technologies are either expensive (evacuated multi-layer insulation) or degrade quickly (polyurethane foam). Both are maintenance intensive to retain the original performance level.
In the case of MLI, MIP require far less costly monitoring, vacuum maintenance and installation costs. Polyurethane foam insulation degrades starting with the first thermal cycle when the adhesive interface between the pipe and foam inner surface separate, allowing collection of moisture therefor requiring replacement after only 3 years of use.
Features:
High thermal performance in 1-atm environment.
High thermal performance in vacuum environment.
1.7 MPa (250 psi) load bearing strength.
Durability.
Free-form shape capability.
Mass producible with low cost materials.
Independent segments.
Field repairable.
Low density.
Oxygen compatible materials, vapor-tight shell.
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Benefits:
Twice as effective as foam and vapor tight.
MLI class performance at fraction of cost.
Allows for thin vacuum shell.
Long-life, maintenance free operation possible.
Can be fabricated for many geometries.
Cost effective pre-manufactured panels.
Damage to one segment has little overall effect.
Minimum operational downtime for repairs.
Practical for flight applications.
Safe for oxygen use.
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| Clamshell Insulation Panel for Transfer & Vent Lines |
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MIP Installed on Liquid Hydrogen Transfer Line at Kennedy Space Center
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| Insulation System Studies
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Microspheres have been thourghly tested as a cryogenic insulation system by goverment agencies, academic instatutes and cryogenic industry leaders.
- Thermal Conductivity Testing
- Cryostat-100 (Cryogenics Test Lab - Kennedy Space Center)
- New Cryostat/Test Method to 4K (Florida State University/National High Magnetic Field Laboratory)
- ASTM C177 (Marshall Space Flight Center)
- Comparison of different glass bubbles (Technology Applications, Inc.)
- Electrostatics Testing
- Electrostatic Properties (Electrostatics & Surface Physics Lab - Kennedy Space Center)
- Electrostatic Properties (Florida Institute of Technology)
- Mechanical Property Testing
- Vacuum Pumpdown/Retention (Cryogenics Test Lab - Kennedy Space Center)
- Vibration/Mechanical Settling (Cryogenics Test Lab - Kennedy Space Center)
- Material Compatibility (White Sands Test Facility)
- Structural Integrity Testing (Clarkson University - NY)
- Structural Integrity Testing (Cryogenics Test Lab - Kennedy Space Center)
- Chemical Property Testing
- Surface Chemistry/Microscope Inspection (Material Science Lab - Kennedy Space Center)
- Residual Gas Analysis (Haz Gas Detection Lab - Kennedy Space Center)
- Chemical Composition (Clarkson University - NY)
- Corrosion Testing
- Corrosion Evaluation Testing (Corrosion Testbed - Kennedy Space Center)
- Thermal Modeling
- 1000-liter & 850,000 Gallon Tank Analytical Model (Marshall Space Flight Center)
- Radiation Gap Analysis at Top of Tank (Kennedy Space Center)
- Insulation Material Boil-off Comparative Analysis (Kennedy Space Center)
- Thermo-Economic Analysis
- Initial Material Cost vs. Annual Energy Savings (Kennedy Space Center)
- Insulation Filling Study
- Kennedy Space Center Application (Cryogenics Test Lab/Shuttle Ops. - Kennedy Space Center)
- Glass Bubble Material Handling (Nol-Tec Systems)
- Granular Physics Study
- Glass Bubble Property Determination (Clarkson University)
- 850,000 Gallon Tank Flow Analysis (Clarkson University)
- Tank Pressure Prediction (Clarkson University)
- Safety Study
- Hazard Analysis (White Sands Test Facility)
- Kennedy Space Center Application Safety Assessment (Kennedy Space Center)
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 Microsphere Insulation System Studies:
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