3766 -- Performance Evaluation of An Air-Gap Insulation System PDF

Describes a series of heat transfer tests performed on an air-gap insulation concept, which consists of simply trapping a blanket of air around the object to be insulated. Advantages include low cost, simplicity and benign construction materials. Describes the specially constructed insulation test rig. Describes tests in which a prototype valve jacket was tested over the entire temperature range and found to perform well in comparison with standard insulation methods and in which a straight pipe section was insulated with a cylindrical shell, trapping an annular air gap. The test were run at high temperature only. Compares the results against heat transfer theory and finds they match the predictions very well.

KEYWORDS: Thermal insulation, heat flow, testing, air, pipes, prototypes, valves