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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 for Cryogenic Systems |
 Microspheres as Cryogenic Insulation
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Developed by Technology Applications, Inc. (TAI) as a cryogenic insulation material, microspheres are hollow microscopic glass bubbles that are light, strong, free flowing, noncorrosive and combines in a single material the desirable properties that other insulations only have individually. When used as a cryogenic insulating material, microspheres exhibit the optimal combination of thermal performance, physical characteristics, cost, weight, durability, and low maintenance.
They are a highly efficient insulation material for high stress production, storage and transportation of cryogenic liquids. Microspheres have been proven to be a better alternative to current cryogenic grade perlite insulation and cheaper to install/maintain than multi layer insulation (MLI). In fact, NASA studies have shown improvement of up to 51% in thermal performance over perlite and less thermal conductance than MLI at degraded vacuum levels.
Technology Applications, Inc. has worked with NASA regarding microspheres as a cryogenic insulation and we currently hold U.S. patent 6,858,280 for this application. Currently, cryogenic tanks using perlite can suffer from compaction caused by thermal cycling and/or vibrations, resulting in costly thermal inefficiencies. Microspheres have a fluid-like behavior that fills voids and does not compact while in use, thus reducing boil off and eliminating the need to re-insulate. Microspheres offer solutions to many problems that affect cryogenic production, transportion and storage with benefits such as reduced boil off rates, corrosion protection, and reduced maintenance costs.
Applications (but not limited to):
Air separation units.
Cold boxes.
Cryogen storage tanks.
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Cryogen ship tankers.
Cryogen truck trailers.
Vacuum-jacketed transfer lines.
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Microspheres physical characteristics allow them to be easily used as a direct replacement for perlite as OEM insulation of new tanks and refurbishment of existing tanks containing perlite. In the case of MLI, they require far less costly monitoring, vacuum maintenance and installation costs. When compared to perlite, maintenance costs are reduced greatly as well, because microspheres are noncorrosive, do not compact, require no top-off or re-insulation, and assists in vacuum retention.
Features:
Noncorrosive hollow glass with spherical design.
Low thermal conductivity.
Fluid-like behavior.
Will not crush or degrade.
Lightweight & powder-like.
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Benefits:
Won't corrode annulus walls, supports or piping.
Reduces boil off by as much as 50%.
Fills voids & won't compact, eliminating top-offs.
No replacement necessary.
Direct replacement for perlite.
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| Visual & Thermal Performance Comparisons |
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Microscope comparison of bulk-fill insulation materials: (left to right) 65 µm microspheres at 200X, 600 µm
perlite powder at 100X, and 2000 µm aerogel beads at 100X.
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Source: NASA Cryogenics Test Labratory, Kennedy Space Center
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Source: NASA Cryogenics Test Labratory, Kennedy Space Center
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| Insulation System Studies
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Microspheres have been thoroughly tested as a cryogenic insulation system by government agencies, academic institutes and cryogenic industry leaders to produce these insulation system studies:
"Glass Microsphere Insulation for Liquid Hydrogen Storage Tanks" System Study & Summary
"Thermal Performance Comparison of Glass Microsphere and Perlite Insulation Systems for Liquid Hydrogen Storage Tanks" System Study & Summary
"Demonstration of Microsphere Insulation in Cryogenic Vessels" System Study & Summary
- 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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