Multilayer insulation (MLI), commonly used in cryogenics, is typically composed of many layers of thin polymer sheets each coated with a thin film of highly reflective metal. The primary purpose of this insulation is to block radiative energy transfer. However, at very low temperatures where blackbody radiation occurs at long wavelengths, some energy may be transmitted through these layers, degrading the performance of the insulation. Traditional modeling techniques assume that the films are opaque and are not easily extended to include radiative transmission through the layers. In order to model the effect of wavelength dependent transmission on the thermal performance of MLI, an L1-norm energy vector is defined and combined with a square energy distribution matrix. The key here is that the energy distribution matrix describes one time step of the radiation—one set of reflections, transmissions, and absorptions—and since this matrix is square, it can be easily raised to a large power, describing the final state of the system quickly. This approach removes the need to track every reflected and transmitted radiation element, but instead determines the eventual location where the thermal radiation energy is deposited. This method can be generalized to model dependence of the reflection and transmission of the radiation on wavelength or angle of propagation, to include thermal conduction effects, and to model transient behavior. The results of this work predict the degree of transmission dependent degradation expected to be seen when using state-of-the-art MLI in low temperature cryogenic systems.
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
e-mail: robert.c.youngquist@nasa.gov
National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
e-mail: mark.a.nurge@nasa.gov
National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
e-mail: stanley.o.starr@nasa.gov
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June 2015
Research-Article
Modeling Transmission Effects on Multilayer Insulation
Robert C. Youngquist,
National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
e-mail: robert.c.youngquist@nasa.gov
Robert C. Youngquist
The KSC Applied Physics Laboratory (NE-L5)
,National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
e-mail: robert.c.youngquist@nasa.gov
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Mark A. Nurge,
National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
e-mail: mark.a.nurge@nasa.gov
Mark A. Nurge
1
The KSC Applied Physics Laboratory (NE-L5)
,National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
e-mail: mark.a.nurge@nasa.gov
1Corresponding author.
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Wesley L. Johnson,
Wesley L. Johnson
Glenn Research Center,
e-mail: wesley.l.johnson@nasa.gov
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
, 21000 Brookpark Road, Mail Stop: 301-3
,Cleveland, OH 44135
e-mail: wesley.l.johnson@nasa.gov
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Stanley O. Starr
National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
e-mail: stanley.o.starr@nasa.gov
Stanley O. Starr
The KSC Applied Physics Laboratory (NE-L5)
,National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
e-mail: stanley.o.starr@nasa.gov
Search for other works by this author on:
Robert C. Youngquist
The KSC Applied Physics Laboratory (NE-L5)
,National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
e-mail: robert.c.youngquist@nasa.gov
Mark A. Nurge
The KSC Applied Physics Laboratory (NE-L5)
,National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
e-mail: mark.a.nurge@nasa.gov
Wesley L. Johnson
Glenn Research Center,
e-mail: wesley.l.johnson@nasa.gov
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
, 21000 Brookpark Road, Mail Stop: 301-3
,Cleveland, OH 44135
e-mail: wesley.l.johnson@nasa.gov
Stanley O. Starr
The KSC Applied Physics Laboratory (NE-L5)
,National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
e-mail: stanley.o.starr@nasa.gov
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Heat Transfer Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF THERMAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS. Manuscript received April 3, 2014; final manuscript received August 26, 2014; published online January 28, 2015. Assoc. Editor: Ranganathan Kumar.
This material is declared a work of the US Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl. Jun 2015, 7(2): 021007 (7 pages)
Published Online: June 1, 2015
Article history
Received:
April 3, 2014
Revision Received:
August 26, 2014
Online:
January 28, 2015
Connected Content
A correction has been published:
Erratum: “Modeling Transmission Effects on Multilayer Insulation,” [J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl., 2015, 7(2), p. 021007]
Citation
Youngquist, R. C., Nurge, M. A., Johnson, W. L., and Starr, S. O. (June 1, 2015). "Modeling Transmission Effects on Multilayer Insulation." ASME. J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl. June 2015; 7(2): 021007. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4028570
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