Model Based Exploration of Physical Parameters for Liquid Hydrogen System Insulation Performance

Abstract

Cryogenic Systems require a highly efficient insulation so as to limit the heat ingress and boil-off, which is generally achieved through the use of vacuum combined with an insulated media. The performance of Multi layer Insulation (MLI) will be investigated with detailed thermal models developed to account for all the heat transfer contributions, solid conduction, gaseous conduction and radiation. Results are presented for an usual cold vacuum pressure (CVP) corresponding to high vacuum (<10−6 torr) and compared with available experimental measurements for state of the art technologies. The nominal thermal performances are then evaluated for a cold temperature of 20K (representative of liquid hydrogen storage temperature), for a degraded CVP with hydrogen and nitrogen as residual gasses and for increased hot boundary temperatures. Other parameters are also discussed such as, the number of layers, material, layers density, venting options, assembly process and material optical properties. Finally, a sensitivity of the thermal performance is also presented with a pressure gradient through the insulation thickness, that could be induced by cryopumping, materials outgassing, pumping times or small leakages.