Vibration and Thermal Cycling Effects on Bulk-fill Insulation Materials for Cryogenic Tanks

摘要

Large-scale (1,000,000 liters or more) cryogenic storage tanks are typically perlite-insulated double-walled vessels. Associated problems with perlite, such as mechanical compaction and settling, could be greatly reduced by using newer bulk-fill materials such as glass bubbles or aerogel beads. Using the newer materials should translate to lower life cycle costs and improved system reliability. NASA Kennedy Space Center is leveraging its experience in the areas of materials development, insulation testing, and cryogenic systems design to develop an insulation retrofit option that will meet both industry and NASA requirements. A custom 10-liter dewar test apparatus, developed by the KSC Cryogenics Test Laboratory, was used to determine the vibration and thermal cycling effects on different bulk-fill insulation materials for cryogenic tanks. The testing included liquid-nitrogen boiloff testing and thermal cycling (with vibration) of a number of test dewars. Test results show that glass bubbles have better thermal performance and less mechanical compaction compared to perlite powder. The higher cost of the bulk material should be offset by reduced commodity loss from boiloff and improvements in material handling, evacuation, and vacuum retention. The long-term problem with settling and compaction of perlite should also be eliminated. Aerogel beads are superior for the no-vacuum condition and can now be considered in some applications. Further studies on large-scale systems are presently being pursued.