Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Thermal Insulation'

The aim of this doctorate is to investigate an alternative to petroleum based thermal insulations, by using natural and recycled materials. The methodology used is centered on the use of the basic ingredients of waste animal fats, waste oils and a potash derived lye mixture, combined to create a crude soap. This soap is aerated to produce a lightweight structure that is capable of preventing or reducing heat transfer between areas of differing temperatures. Experimental testing reveals that this non-toxic product can be strengthened, made waterproof, vermin proof and fire retardant, whilst the results from the thermal testing laboratory confirm that aerated soap insulation functions as a moderate performer. The step-by-step experimental methodology applied, alongside the thermal conductivity and resistance results contained within this thesis, can be used as a gauge for future potential improvements to build from. Currently there are gaps in knowledge and practice with regards to environmental thermal insulation. There are other environmental insulations, but more research needs to be initiated regarding recyclable, biodegradable, renewable and organic components and ingredients within the insulation make-up. Industry trends are to improve the better performing petroleum insulations, whilst seemingly unwilling to compromise on environmental problem relief. This doctorate provides suggestions on how to reduce some of the environmental problems by replacing or diluting the toxic elements of petroleum insulation. Soap insulation is unique and as such makes a significant contribution to knowledge. This uniqueness is evidenced through the literature review and the systematic investigation of the research topic. The awarding of a worldwide patent on soap insulation protects the manufacture of thermal insulation comprising of solid aerated soap panels, derived from animal fats and lye. This idea of combining basic soap ingredients, then aerating the mixture to create thermal insulation is new and as such contributes to new knowledge. The publishing of a journal paper titled “Can Soap be a Sustainable Alternative to Petroleum-Based Thermal Insulation?” in the journal of Structural Survey. (Read & Arayici, 2015) emphasize the contribution of this research. Read & Arayici, (2015) describes the ingredients used, the manufacturing process and the improvement measures taken to create the soap insulation. Publishing is one method of making this research known to the global community. Academics can then engage with fellow academics or collaborate with industry to further this research or to commercialise this knowledge. Aerated soap research can widen the understanding of possible new alternative thermal insulation ideas. This creates a small yet original and significant opportunity to reduce the associated carbon footprint and environmental costs accrued each time that petroleum insulation is produced.

We are coming to realize that there is an urgent need to reduce energy usage in buildings and it has to be done in a sustainable way. This thesis focuses on the performance of the building envelope; more precisely thermal performance of walls and super insulation material in the form of vacuum insulation. However, the building envelope is just one part of the whole building system, and super insulators have one major flaw: they are easily adversely affected by other problems in the built environment.  Vacuum Insulation Panels are one fresh addition to the arsenal of insulation materials available to the building industry. They are composite material with a core and an enclosure which, as a composite, can reach thermal conductivities as low as 0.004 W/(mK). However, the exceptional performance relies on the barrier material preventing gas permeation, maintaining a near vacuum into the core and a minimized thermal bridge effect from the wrapping of barrier material round the edge of a panel. A serpentine edge is proposed to decrease the heat loss at the edge. Modeling and testing shows a reduction of 60% if a reasonable serpentine edge is used. A diffusion model of permeation through multilayered barrier films with metallization coatings was developed to predict ultimate service life. The model combines numerical calculations with analytical field theory allowing for more precise determination than current models. The results using the proposed model indicate that it is possible to manufacture panels with lifetimes exceeding 50 years with existing manufacturing. Switching from the component scale to the building scale; an approach of integrated testing and modeling is proposed. Four wall types have been tested in a large range of environments with the aim to assess the hygrothermal nature and significance of thermal bridges and air leakages. The test procedure was also examined as a means for a more representative performance indicator than R-value (in USA). The procedure incorporates specific steps exposing the wall to different climate conditions, ranging from cold and dry to hot and humid, with and without a pressure gradient. This study showed that air infiltration alone might decrease the thermal resistance of a residential wall by 15%, more for industrial walls. Results from the research underpin a discussion concerning the importance of a holistic approach to building design if we are to meet the challenge of energy savings and sustainability. Thermal insulation efficiency is a main concept used throughout, and since it measures utilization it is a partial measure of sustainability. It is therefore proposed as a necessary design parameter in addition to a performance indicator when designing building envelopes. The thermal insulation efficiency ranges from below 50% for a wood stud wall poorly designed with incorporated VIP, while an optimized design with VIP placed in an uninterrupted external layer shows an efficiency of 99%, almost perfect. Thermal insulation efficiency reflects the measured wall performance full scale test, thus indicating efficiency under varied environmental loads: heat, moisture and pressure. The building design must be as a system, integrating all the subsystems together to function in concert. New design methodologies must be created along with new, more reliable and comprehensive measuring, testing and integrating procedures. New super insulators are capable of reducing energy usage below zero energy in buildings. It would be a shame to waste them by not taking care of the rest of the system. This thesis details the steps that went into this study and shows how this can be done.
QC 20120228

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2011.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 74-76).
Buildings consume too much energy. For example, 16.6% of all the energy used in the United States goes towards just the heating and cooling of buildings. Many governments, organizations, and companies are setting very ambitious goals to reduce their energy use over the next few years. Because the time periods for these goals are much less than the average lifetime of a building, existing buildings will need to be retrofitted. There are two different types of retrofitting: shallow and deep. Shallow retrofits involve the quickest and least expensive improvements often including reducing infiltration around windows, under doors, etc and blowing more insulation into the attic. Deep retrofits are those that involve costly renovation and typically include adding insulation to the walls and replacing windows. A new, easily installable, inexpensive, and thin insulation would move insulating the walls from the deep retrofit category to the shallow retrofit category and thus would revolutionize the process of retrofitting homes to make them more energy efficient. This thesis provides an overview of a concept for a new, easily installable, inexpensive, thin aerogel-based insulation and goes into detail on how the thermal properties of the aerogel were measured and validated. The transient hot-wire method for measuring the thermal conductivity of very low thermal conductivity silica aerogel (1 0mW/m K at 1 atm) along with a correction for end effects was validated with the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Standard Reference Material 1459, fumed silica board to within 1 mW/mK. Despite the translucence of the aerogel at certain wavelengths, radiation is not an issue through the aerogel during the hot-wire test but may be an issue in actual use as an insulation. The monolithic aerogel thermal conductivity drops significantly with slightly reduced pressure (3.2 mW/m K at 0.1atm). For the final composite insulation, the new silica aerogel formula is a great choice and it is recommended to reduce the pressure around the aerogel to 1 / 1 0 th. In the future, a prototype of an insulation panel combining a 3-D truss structure, monolithic or granular silica aerogel, and reduced pressure will be constructed and tested.
by Ellann Cohen.
S.M.

Cette thèse s'inscrit dans un objectif à long terme de déterminer in situ (et/ou en usage) les propriétés thermiques des matériaux isolants du bâtiment. Notre objectif est de réduire l'écart entre la mesure en laboratoire et la performance réelle des isolants dans les parois de bâtiments. Nous nous sommes fixés deux objectifs principaux au cours de cette étude: 1- Étudier la possibilité d'utiliser la sonde cylindre à choc thermique pour la mesure des caractéristiques thermiques des matériaux isolants du bâtiment. 2- Étudier le comportement thermique d'un isolant en usage en utilisant un montage basé sur le principe de la boite chaude gardée. Cet équipement permet d'effectuer des études dans des conditions climatiques en température et en humidité proches de situations réelles supportées par l'enveloppe d'un bâtiment. Ce travail a permis d'identifier des verrous lors de l'utilisation d'une sonde à choc thermique pour caractériser des matériaux isolants. Il a aussi montré l'intérêt de la boite chaude gardée pour effectuer des études dans des conditions réelles et pour étudier les transferts de chaleur et de masse dans les parois de bâtiments
This thesis is part of a long-term objective to determine in situ (and / or in use) the thermal properties of building insulation materials. We want to reduce the gap between the laboratory measurement and the actual performance of insulation in buildings walls. We have set two main objectives during this study: 1- To study the possibility of using a non-steady state hot probe for measuring thermal properties of insulants. 2- To study the thermal behaviour of insulation materials in use by using a guarded hot box. Climatic conditions in temperature and humidity close to real situations can be submitted supported by hot and cold cells. This work has shown the interest of using thermal probe to characterize insulating materials. Guarded hot box is also interesting for studies in real conditions and to followheat and mass transfer in buildings walls

Cette thèse s'inscrit dans un objectif à long terme de déterminer in situ (et/ou en usage) les propriétés thermiques des matériaux isolants du bâtiment. Notre objectif est de réduire l'écart entre la mesure en laboratoire et la performance réelle des isolants dans les parois de bâtiments. Nous nous sommes fixés deux objectifs principaux au cours de cette étude: 1- Étudier la possibilité d'utiliser la sonde cylindre à choc thermique pour la mesure des caractéristiques thermiques des matériaux isolants du bâtiment. 2- Étudier le comportement thermique d'un isolant en usage en utilisant un montage basé sur le principe de la boite chaude gardée. Cet équipement permet d'effectuer des études dans des conditions climatiques en température et en humidité proches de situations réelles supportées par l'enveloppe d'un bâtiment. Ce travail a permis d'identifier des verrous lors de l'utilisation d'une sonde à choc thermique pour caractériser des matériaux isolants. Il a aussi montré l'intérêt de la boite chaude gardée pour effectuer des études dans des conditions réelles et pour étudier les transferts de chaleur et de masse dans les parois de bâtiments
This thesis is part of a long-term objective to determine in situ (and / or in use) the thermal properties of building insulation materials. We want to reduce the gap between the laboratory measurement and the actual performance of insulation in buildings walls. We have set two main objectives during this study: 1- To study the possibility of using a non-steady state hot probe for measuring thermal properties of insulants. 2- To study the thermal behaviour of insulation materials in use by using a guarded hot box. Climatic conditions in temperature and humidity close to real situations can be submitted supported by hot and cold cells. This work has shown the interest of using thermal probe to characterize insulating materials. Guarded hot box is also interesting for studies in real conditions and to followheat and mass transfer in buildings walls

Thesis (Nav. E.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Ocean Engineering, 1994, and Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Sciences & Engineering, 1994.
Includes bibliographical references (leaf 55).
by Patrick Joseph Keenan.
M.S.
Nav.E.

Fibre-reinforced polymeric composites for structural applications are required to conform to specific fire performance requirements and to retain their mechanical integrity after exposure to heat/fire. Many polymeric composites will lose their structural integrity when exposed to temperatures close to the glass transition temperature of the resin matrix. The most effective technique of protecting these materials against heat and fire is the use of surface coatings, which can inhibit or reduce the heat transfer from the fire/heat source to the underlying structure. In this PhD, novel thermal barrier coatings and techniques of their application on the surface of glass fibre-reinforced epoxy (GRE) composites were developed. These include: (1) commercially available intumescent coatings applied by paint brush and roller (2) nanoclays, dispersed in a solvent and sprayed on plasma activated GRE laminate surfaces (3) ceramic nano/microparticles dispersed in a flame retardant resin, applied by painting or K-bar application and (4) chemical coating obtained by applying phosphorus containing monomers (vinyl phosphonic acid) on a GRE surface by paint brush and polymerisation using UV radiation. Surface characterisation was carried out on each coating by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a water drop test. These results showed that the application method used plays an important role in determining the uniformity of the coating. Plasma treatment increased the hydrophilicity of the GRE composite surface, while in the presence of a resin binder, the coating established a hydrophobic surface. The effect of these coatings on the flammability of the composites was studied by a cone calorimeter at different heat fluxes, and the thermal barrier effect of the coatings was measured by insertion of thermocouples into the laminate during the cone experiments and measuring the time for the back surface temperature to reach the glass transition temperature of the resin. Intumescent coatings, as expected, showed the best performance and were used to set a benchmark for the performance of the other coatings. The nanoparticle and micro-ceramic particle coatings can act as thermal barriers. However, their concentration on the surface of laminates was not high enough to provide effective thermal protection for an extended period of time. The chemical (poly (vinyl phosphonic acid)) coating provided the best thermal barrier of the coatings due to its ability to form an intumescent char. Three point blending flexural and impact tests were used to study the effect of the coatings on the mechanical properties of the laminates. The contribution of the coating to the impact and flexural modulus of the laminates is related to the thickness of the coating and its mechanical properties. Thus, thin coatings showed better results than thick coatings. Each coating had a minimal effect on the mechanical properties of the GRE composite, while they improve the retention of mechanical property after exposure to heat, with the chemically coated samples performing the best, due to the formation of a thick intumescent char. A tape pull was performed to study the adhesion of the coatings on the GRE surfaces. All coatings containing resin binder or polymerized on the GRE surfaces were durable and did not peel off. The durability to water was tested by a water soak test. The nano/micro particulate ceramic coatings showed the best performance, whereas the chemical coatings showed the worst behaviour due to the highly hydrophilic nature of the poly (vinyl phosphonic acid).

Dans les turbines à gaz aéronautiques, les matériaux employés dans les parties les plus chaudes sont soumis à des environnements chimiques extrêmes, sous fortes pressions et températures. Ainsi, des systèmes de revêtement « barrière thermique, BT » sont appliqués sur les substrats en superalliage à base nickel. Ces systèmes multicouches (zircone stabilisée à l’yttrine (YSZ) /couche de liaison en MCrAl ou NiPtAl/substrat refroidi) permettent d’abaisser la température à la surface des pièces, conduisant à un comportement thermomécanique adéquat et à une diminution des vitesses d’oxydation/corrosion. Cependant, l’augmentation nécessaire de la température des gaz d’entrée de turbine (augmentation du rendement moteur) entraîne de nouveaux phénomènes de dégradation (CMAS) et une perte d’efficacité des revêtements BT actuels. Par ailleurs, l’évaluation de la durée de vie des revêtements BT s’avère cruciale pour déterminer celle des moteurs. Comprendre l’évolution du pouvoir isolant des revêtements BT en environnement agressif constitue donc un enjeu essentiel du point de vue scientifique et technologique. A partir des revêtements couramment employés (YSZ) déposés par projection plasma (PS) ou en phase vapeur (EB-PVD), la présente étude a visé à mieux comprendre l’effet de l’évolution des propriétés microstructurales et chimiques des revêtements sur leur pouvoir isolant, dans le but de développer des outils nécessaires à la mise au point des revêtements du futur. De plus, une partie des travaux menés a porté sur une solution alternative plus économique et écologique d’élaboration de revêtements BT, fondée sur un procédé par voie barbotine, permettant in fine d’obtenir une barrière constituée de microsphères creuses d’alumine. Ce travail a permis de montrer que l’évolution par frittage des phases céramiques en YSZ, les changements de phase cristalline, les réactions avec les CMAS et la croissance d’oxydes thermiques modifient la diffusivité thermique. En revanche, celle-ci évolue moins avec la température puisque les revêtements en alumine issus de barbotines se sont avérés plus stables et ce, notamment, lorsque leur élaboration a été réalisée sous atmosphères hybrides (mélanges Ar/air)
In aeronautical gas turbine engines, the metallic materials employed in the hottest sections are subject to very harsh chemical environments at high pressures and temperatures. Therefore, thermal barrier coating systems (TBCs) are applied onto nickel-based superalloy substrates. These multi-layered systems (ceramic yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) / MCrAl or NiPtAl bond coats / cooled substrate) lower the temperature at the components surface, which ensures an adequate thermomechanical behaviour and reduces the oxidation/corrosion rates. However, the increase of the turbine inlet temperature (increased engine performance) brings about new degradation phenomena (e.g. CMAS) and loss of efficiency of the current TBCs. Therefore, understanding the evolution of the insulation ability of TBCs in such harsh environments is key from both the scientific and technological perspectives to estimate the lifetime of these coatings, hence that of the engines. Based on current plasma-sprayed (PS) and electron-beam physical vapour deposited (EB-PVD) YSZ coatings, this thesis seeks to provide a better comprehension on the relationships between the intrinsic properties of the current TBCs and their thermal insulation capacity as a basis for the development of future coatings. Also, this work studies an alternative solution to create a TBC made of hollow alumina microspheres by the slurry route. We will show that the sintering of the YSZ, the evolution of crystal phases, the reactions between YSZ and CMAS and the growth of thermal oxides alter the thermal diffusivity to different extents. In contrast, the evolution of the thermal diffusivity with temperature is less marked with the slurry alumina coatings, which appear more stable when hybrid Ar/air annealing atmospheres are employed upon their synthesis

Given the importance of heat balance being maintained between a person and their environment an appropriate clothing choice is essential. Since military personnel are required to work effectively when deployed in any of the world's climates it is important that the thermal protection afforded by their clothing is considered as well as its more obvious protective properties such as those relating to the chemical and abrasive environments. Clothing descriptions restricted to details of heat and water vapour transfer characteristics alone, as is commonly the case, are recognised as being insufficient. Of particular note, where these data are obtained under 'artificial' conditions, ie intrinsic values, they are unlikely to represent the 'resultant' values as observed when worn by human subjects engaged in actual work tasks. Where intrinsic data are used in predictive standards calculations, to estimate safe work times etc, the workforce under consideration may not always be protected. One source of change in the thermal properties of clothing, when in the workplace, occurs due to increased convective and evaporative heat transfer at the wearer's skin surface caused by air movement through the clothing. This may occur as a result of wearer body movements or increased environmental air speed. The Ventilation Index has previously been suggested as an accurate and repeatable method for quantifying clothing ventilation characteristics. Although several other measurement techniques have also been suggested, the Ventilation Index is simple (albeit laborious) to conduct, and does not require the use of expensive equipment. Work conducted towards this thesis has shown that the Ventilation Index may be suitable for use in either manikin testing or human studies assessmentso f clothing. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the suitability of the Ventilation Index as a measurementt echnique for the assessmenot f clothing ventilation characteristics, particularly to consider the relationship between clothing ventilation and wearer physiological responses and to identify the factors which can affect this. The Ventilation Index measurement systems constructed as part of this research have improved on those used previously in similar research. New materials technology has provided an improved air-tight oversuit for use during measurement of the clothing micro-environment (a constant source of fiustration, it appears, for previous authors), while extensive calibration of the whole system has proved its accuracy. Using the Ventilation Index has shown that the ingress and egress of air into and from the clothing micro-environment may induce a physiological response from the wearer of the clothing (chapter 6) such increases in air movement being reflected by a drop in insulation afforded by the clothing (chapter 7). Of particular interest to persons involved in the thermal assessment of clothing, will be the suggestion that clothing may exhibit different ventilation characteristics when tested on a thermal manikin to when worn by human subjects. This difference appearing to be related to clothing fit (investigated in chapter 9). Of interest to wearer's of protective, is the observation that air-impermeable clothing does not necessarily withstand changes in environmental air movement (chapter 10). The technique is not without criticism. The standard tracer gas technique, used to calculate clothing air exchange rate, considers only air movement occurring next to the wearer's skin. In multi-layer clothing ensembles, the movement of air in clothing layers more distant will change the clothing micro-environment and thus have consequences for the wearer. Preliminary investigation suggests that distribution of nitrogen to each clothing layer should enable assessmenot fair movement in each of these layers.

La tendència creixent a la indústria electrònica de fer aparells cada vegada més petits, més lleugers i que treballin més ràpid provoca un augment de calor generat per efecte Joule, degut a l’augment de freqüència del pas d’electrons. Eliminar aquest excés de calor requereix la millora de la conductivitat tèrmica dels materials ja existents, ja que el mantenir la temperatura de treball d’aquests dispositius està directament relacionat amb l’eficiència, el temps de vida útil i la prevenció de fallades prematures dels equips. Alguns elements dels dispositius electrònics es recobreixen amb reïnes termoestables epoxídiques. Per aquesta raó, augmentar la conductivitat tèrmica d’aquestes reïnes, aïllants per naturalesa, mantenint l’aïllament elèctric, resulta de gran importància en diverses indústries com l’electrònica i l’elèctrica. El mètode més senzill i econòmic per assolir aquest propòsit és mitjançant l’addició de partícules a la matriu polimèrica. En aquesta tesis doctoral s’han utilitzat diferents tipus de partícules per aconseguir els objectius en diverses matrius epoxídiques: nitrur de bor (BN), alúmina (Al2O3), nitrur d’alumini (AlN), carbur de silici (SiC), grafit expandit (EG) i nanotubs de carboni (CNTs). Experimentalment, s’ha determinat la influència que cada material afegit té sobre les propietats finals dels materials compostos, especialment de les característiques mecàniques, tèrmiques i elèctriques. El millor resultat obtingut pels objectius proposats ha estat la combinació del 70 % en pes de BN i un 2.5 i 5 % en pes de EG, arribant a més d’un 1600 % de millora en conductivitat tèrmica respecte el material de partida. Les conductivitats tèrmiques obtingudes han estat de 2,08 i 2,22 W/m·K, respectivament. A més, aquests materials han mantingut resistivitats elèctriques prou bones, al voltant de 10^10 i 10^6 Ω·m respectivament.
La tendencia de la industria electrónica de crear dispositivos cada vez más pequeños, más ligeros y que trabajen más rápido lleva a un aumento en la producción de calor generado por efecto Joule, debido al aumento de la frecuencia de paso de los electrones. Eliminar este exceso de calor lleva a la necesidad de mejorar la conductividad térmica de los materiales ya existentes, ya que limitar la temperatura de trabajo de los dispositivos está directamente relacionada con su eficiencia, su tiempo de vida útil y previene la aparición de fallos prematuros de los equipos. Algunos elementos de estos dispositivos están recubiertos de resina termoestable epoxídica. Por esta razón, aumentar la conductividad térmica de estas resinas, aislantes por naturaleza, resulta de gran importancia en varias industrias como la electrónica y la eléctrica. El método más simple y económico para alcanzar este propósito es mediante la adición de partículas a la matriz polimérica. En esta tesis doctoral se han utilizado diferentes tipos de partículas en varias matrices epoxídicas: nitruro de boro (BN), alúmina (Al2O3), nitruro de aluminio (AlN), carburo de silicio (SiC), grafito expandido (EG) y nanotubos de carbono (CNTs). Se ha determinado experimentalmente la influencia de cada material añadido en las propiedades finales de los materiales compuestos, especialmente en sus características mecánicas, térmicas y eléctricas. El mejor resultado obtenido en cuanto a los objetivos propuestos ha sido la combinación del 70 % en peso de BN y un 2.5 y 5 % en peso de EG, alcanzando más de un 1600 % de mejora en conductividad térmica respecto al material de partida. Las conductividades térmicas alcanzadas han sido de 2,08 y 2,22 W/m·K respectivamente. Además, estos materiales han mantenido unas resistividades eléctricas suficientes, alrededor de 10^10 y 10^6 Ω·m, respectivamente.
The tendency in electronics to produce smaller and lighter devices with higher power output causes an increase of the generated heat (Joule effect) by the increase in the frequency of electrons. Evolve this exceeding heat cause the need to improve some properties that existent materials do not meet, since keeping the working temperature of these devices is directly related to efficiency, useful lifetime and prevention of premature equipment failures. Some elements of these devices are coated by epoxy resins and this is the reason why enhance the thermal conductivity of them, insulators by nature, is of great importance in several industries such as electronics and electrical. The most economic and simple technique to face this issue is still today through the addition of high thermal conductive fillers. In this doctoral thesis, boron nitride (BN), alumina (Al2O3), aluminum nitride (AlN), silicon carbide (SiC), expanded graphite (EG) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been used. Experimentally, the influence of each filler has been determined in the final composites, especially in the thermal, mechanic and electric characteristics. The materials with the best performances in the proposed objectives were those of homopolymerized cycloaliphatic epoxy resin with the combined addition of 70 wt. % of BN platelets and 2.5 and 5 wt. % of EG. The values of thermal conductivity improved by more than 1600 % in reference to the neat epoxy and were 2.08 and 2.22 W/m·K, respectively. These materials also kept enough electrical insulation, in the range of 10^10 and 10^6 Ω·m, respectively.

Multilayer insulation (MLI) has been shown to be the best performing cryogenic insulation system at high vacuum (less than 10[super]-3 torr), and is widely used on spaceflight vehicles. Over the past 50 years, many numerous investigations of MLI have yielded a general understanding of the many variables associated with MLI. MLI has been shown to be a function of variables such as warm boundary temperature, the number of reflector layers, and the spacer material in between reflectors, the interstitial gas pressure and the interstitial gas. Because conduction between reflectors increases with the thickness of the spacer material, and yet the radiation heat transfer is inversely proportional to the number of layers, it stands to reason that the thermal performance of MLI is a function of the number of layers per thickness, or layer density. Empirical equations that were derived based on some of the early tests showed that the conduction term was proportional to the layer density to a powe
ID: 029050581; System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader.; Mode of access: World Wide Web.; Thesis (M.S.A.E.)--University of Central Florida, 2010.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-85).
M.S.A.E.
Masters
Department of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering
Engineering and Computer Science
Aerospace Engineering

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1991.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-83).
The validity of predictive models for the thermal conductivity of foam insulation is established based on the fundamental geometry of the closed-cell foam. The extinction coefficient is experimentally and theoretically determined; the theoretical prediction based on measured geometrical properties differed from the measured values by an average of 6% for ten different foams An approximate method uses measured geometrical values to adjust the measured diffusion coefficients of reference foams. The adjusted coefficients are used as inputs to a computer program which computes the effective thermal conductivity of the foam as a function of time. Values of effective thermal conductivity measured on laboratory and field samples are used as a standard for comparing the results of the physical models and the ageing program. Measured and predicted values differ by 11%, 13%, 1%, 5%, and 1% for the initial thermal conductivity of five foams tested. These errors decrease with time. The ageing program is used to simulate the time-averaged performance as a function of foam density, mean cell diameter, and fractional distribution of solid polymer. The results of the simulation indicate that for a 15 year service life, the optimal density is approximately 3 lb / ft3.
by John David Moreno.
M.S.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1997.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 66-69).
Insulation board is being fabricated and tested for use in developing countries. It is made at a low density, in the area of 5 to 10 pounds per cubic foot (80 to 160 kilograms per cubic meter), and has good thermal properties for an air based insulation, meaning R3 to R4 per inch (Btu-in/ hr-ft2-°F)-, or a conductivity of .048 to .036 W/m-K. The initial effort is to produce a straw insulation board suitable for northern Pakistan, where we are studying the needs and construction of schools and houses. Some type of rigid insulation is needed, as opposed to loose fill, because the buildings have solid masonry walls without an air gap. These boards will be suitable for other developing countries as well The initial survey of possible methods included 1) containing the straw in panels with wire and battens, 2) pulping the straw, and 3) binding with adhesive. In this latter category starch, PVA and sodium silicate were tried as adhesive using uncut and shredded straw, with various methods of application such as spraying, foaming, and dipping, at various adhesive loading rates. Small samples were formed at a range of densities to test structural and thermal properties. This survey suggested that all three of these approaches can succeed structurally and thermally, but that competing economically with existing insulation board is difficult. For boards with binder, the adhesive efficiency was poor. In the final phase of the project, a batch of boards was made at ICI Polyurethane's North American research and development facility, using methane di-isocyanate as the binder. The boards, made at a range of densities and resin contents, and using straw with and without the fine particles, were tested thermally and structurally at MIT. Good mechanical properties were obtained at resin contents as low as 2% by weight. At densities of 8 and 10 pounds per cubic foot (pcf), these boards have R values of 3.7 and 3.45 per inch, respectively. The pressure required to compress the 10 pcf boards to 10% of their original thickness is approximately 15 pounds per square inch (psi), and the modulus of rupture in bending is in the range of 50 psi. Removing the fine particles from the straw improved board strength markedly. These boards at a density of 10 pcf and 2 to 4 % resin content have an estimated materials cost of 2 [cents] per insulating unit (R-ft2), substantially less than either the cost of the expanded polystyrene available in Pakistan, or the retail cost of any rigid board insulation sold in North America.
by Henry S. Harvey, Jr.
S.M.

Buildings consume more than 30 percent of the primary energy worldwide with 65 percent of this attributed to heating ventilation and cooling. To help address this, stratified concrete panels (SCP) have been developed to provide insulation without compromising the thermal mass of concrete. SCP is created by vibrating a single concrete mix containing heavy and lightweight aggregates. Vibration causes the heavy aggregates drop to the bottom so that two distinct strata are formed; an internal structural/heavyweight layer providing thermal mass and an external lightweight layer for insulation. SCP incorporates waste products, for both financial and environmental gains, from which technical benefits also result. Stratified concrete panels have been made and tested during past research projects with results suggesting that SCP could be a competitive product in the residential construction industry, an area in which precast concrete systems have not been favoured in New Zealand. Consideration has been given to the specific rheological requirements of the concrete mix design and the hardened properties of the finished panels. This research considers the commercial viability of SCP using an industrial setting. For practicality of the setting, some materials were altered from past laboratory work to materials that are more easily sourced and better understood but with similar properties as those used previously. Several panels were cast at Stahlton precast yard in an effort to optimise the production process. Consistent results were not achieved and a range of stratification levels were produced. This showed that some capital investment is required to commercialise SCP to provide more energy for vibration such that sufficient stratification can be reliably attained. Two panels were then stood up in an exposed area with the exterior facing north to test for warping effects in a practical setting. No measurable warping occurred over this time which concurred with past work and long term readings that were taken of four year old panels. Structural, thermal and durability tests were carried out on panels with a range of stratification levels to assess the sensitivity of these properties to the level of stratification. From this it was found that the panels with better stratification had significantly better thermal properties than those with moderate to poor stratification. Generally the thermal targets for this project were not met with the total thermal resistance (R-values) not meeting current code requirements. In some cases structural properties were improved with better stratification as the structural layer was stronger through better consolidation. Delamination potential increased with stratification and with age. This requires further research to minimise this effect using fibres across the layer boundary. Porosity was increased in the structural layer in the poorly to moderately stratified panels as the structural layer was not consolidated enough due to lightweight aggregate contamination. As with any new innovation, market acceptance is largely governed by public perception. With appropriate marketing as a sustainable energy saving product, SCP has the potential to be competitive in the residential construction market with some capital investment.

Thesis: S.M. in Building Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Architecture, 2013.
This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 65-67).
Based on mounting evidence in support of anthropogenic global climate change, there is an urgency for developments in high-performance building techniques and technologies. New construction projects provide substantial opportunities for energy efficiency measures, but they represent only a small portion of the building stock. Conversely, while existing buildings are plentiful, they typically have a much narrower range of feasible energy efficiency options. Therefore, there will continue to be a need for the development of new and improved energy efficiency measures for new building construction and even more so for deep retrofits of existing buildings. This thesis provides an overview of the research performed into the on-going development at MIT of a high-performance panelized insulation system based on silica aerogel. Two test methods were used for measuring the thermal conductivity of the granules: the transient hot-wire technique and the guarded hot-plate system. Utilizing the hot-wire set-up, it was demonstrated that compressing a bed of granules will decrease the thermal conductivity of the system until a minimum point is reached around the monolithic density of the aerogel. For the Cabot granules, this was seen at 13 mW/m-K and about 150 kg/m3. The MIT granules showed equal performance to the Cabot granules at bed densities 20-30 kg/m3 lower. The hot-plate testing was able to experimentally evaluate previous analytical predictions regarding the conductivity impact of the internal panel truss and the under-prediction of radiant heat transfer in the hot-wire method. Hot-wire testing was also done in a vacuum chamber to quantify potential performance improvements at reduced air pressures. Since a vacuum would require the incorporation of a barrier film into the panel system, some analyses were done into the thermal bridging potential and gas diffusion requirements of such a film. Additionally, physical prototyping was done to explore how the film would be incorporated into the existing panel design. The aerogel-based insulation panel being developed at MIT continues to show promise, though there are still plenty of opportunities remaining in the development cycle.
by Adam Neugebauer.
S.M. in Building Technology

This master thesis project was performed in collaboration with Scania CV AB, Engine Materials group. The purpose with the project was to investigate different ceramic TBC (Thermal Barrier Coating) thermal insulation properties inside the combustion chamber. Experimental testing was performed with a Single-Cylinder engine with TBC deposited on selected components. A dummy-valve was developed and manufactured specifically for this test in order to enable a water cooling system and to ease the testing procedure. The dummy-valve consists of a headlock, socket, valve poppet and valve shaft. Additionally, a copper ring is mounted between the cylinder head and the valve poppet to seal the system from combustion gases. Thermocouples attached to the modified valve poppet and valve shaft measured the temperature during engine test to calculate the heat flux. The TBCs consisted of three different materials: 7-8% yttrium-stabilized zirconia (8YSZ), gadolinium zirconia and lanthanum zirconia. The 8YSZ TBC was tested as standard, but also with microstructural modifications. Modifications such as pre-induced segmented cracks, nanostructured zones and sealed porosity were used. The results indicated that the heat flux of 8YSZ-standard, 8YSZ-nano and 8YSZ-segmented cracks was in level with the steel reference. In the case of 8YSZ-sealed porosity the heat flux was measured higher than the steel reference. Since 8YSZ-standard and 8YSZ-sealed porosity are deposited with the same powder it is believed that the high heat flux is caused by radiative heat transfer. The remaining samples have had some microstructural changes during engine testing. 8YSZ-nano had undergone sintering and its nanostructured zones became fewer and almost gone after engine testing leading to less heat barrier in the top coat of the TBC. However, for 8YSZ-segmented cracks and gadolinium zirconia lower heat flux was measured due to the appearance of horizontal cracks. These cracks are believed to act as internal barriers as they are orientated perpendicular to the heat flow. During long-time (5 hour) engine tests the 8YSZ-standard exhibited the same phenomena: a decrease in heat flux due to propagation of horizontal cracks. One-dimensional heat flux was not achieved and the main reason for that was caused by heating and cooling of the shafts outer surface. However, the dummy-valve system has proven to be a quick, easy and stable to perform tests with a Single-Cylinder engine. Both water-cooling and long-time engine tests were conducted with minor issues. The dummy-valve has been further developed for future tests. Changes to the valve shaft are the most remarkable: smaller diameter to reduce heat transfer and smaller pockets to ensure better thermocouple positioning. Another issue was gas leakage from the combustion chamber through the copper ring and valve poppet joint. The copper ring will be designed with a 1 mm thick track to improve sealing, hence better attachment to the valve poppet.

This thesis explores the hygrothermal performance of hemp insulation in the context of the United Kingdom. The key objectives of this investigation were to assess the heat and moisture management capacities of hemp insulations in two constructions typical to the UK, of timber frame and solid brick walls and to put the findings of the assessment into the greater context of conventional insulation materials by comparing hemp insulation’s performance with that of stone wool. The assessments were performed by means of laboratory-based experiments, in situ experimental monitoring and computer based numerical hygrothermal simulations. The most important finding during the laboratory-based experiment is that, in high relative humidity, the likelihood and frequency of interstitial condensation is higher in stone wool insulation than in hemp insulation. In terms of the material properties, one of the key findings during the laboratory-based experiment is the high level of moisture buffering capacities of hemp insulations, and therefore their potential in managing moisture in buildings. The in situ assessment of hygrothermal properties of hemp and stone wool insulations confirms the findings of the laboratory based experiments of the corresponding moisture management capacities of these two insulation materials. Parametric analysis of the in situ data shows that mould spore germination is possible in the insulations in vapour open walls although the visual observation has not confirmed the outcome of this analysis. In terms of thermal conductivity, the important finding is that the equivalent thermal conductivity of hemp and stone wool insulations are always equal or below the manufacturers’ declared thermal conductivity values. Long-term hygrothermal performances of hemp and stone wool insulation in timber frame and solid brick walls have been also assessed using a numerical hygrothermal simulation tool (WUFI). As far as the WUFI predictions are concerned, the application of the hemp or stone wool insulation on solid brick wall does not seem to be feasible with reference to condensation and mould growth in the insulations.

This thesis is concerned with developing porous materials from tyre shred residue and polyurethane binder for acoustic absorption and thermal insulation applications. The resultant materials contains a high proportion of open, interconnected cells that are able to absorb incident sound waves through viscous friction, inertia effects and thermal energy exchanges. The materials developed are also able to insulate against heat by suppressing the convection of heat and reduced conductivity of the fluid locked in the large proportion of close-cell pores. The acoustic absorption performance of a porous media is controlled by the number of open cells and pore size distribution. Therefore, this work also investigates the use of catalysts and surfactants to modify the pore structure and studies the influence of the various components in the chemical formulations used to produce these porous materials. An optimum type and amounts of catalyst are selected to obtain a high chemical conversion and a short expanding time for the bubble growth phase. The surfactant is used to reduce the surface tension and achieve a homogenous mixing between the solid particulates tyre shred residue, the water, the catalyst and the binder. It is found that all of the components significantly affect the resultant materials structure and its morphology. The results show that the catalyst has a particularly strong effect on the pore structure and the ensuing thermal and acoustical properties. In this research, the properties of the porous materials developed are characterized using standard experimental techniques and the acoustic and thermal insulation performance underpinned using theoretical models. The important observation from this research is that a new class of recycled materials with pore stratification has been developed. It is shown that the pore stratification can have a positive effect on the acoustic absorption in a broadband frequency range. The control of reaction time in the foaming process is a key function that leads to a gradual change in the pore size distribution, porosity, flow resistivity and tortuosity which vary as a function of sample depth. It is shown that the Pade approximation is a suitable model to study the acoustic behaviour of these materials. A good agreement between the measured data and the model was attained.

The purpose of this project was to study Svenska Aerogel AB’s product Quartzene®, and develop its capacity as a thermal insulator. Quartzene® is a silica based mesoporous material developed by Svenska Aerogel AB, with properties similar to aerogels produced by the sol-gel process. In this report, the correlation between pore structure and thermal conductivity in the material has been studied using techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy, focused ion beam, finite element simulations and transient plane source. Its properties are interesting because of the expanding market of insulated vacuum panels; in which Svenska Aerogel AB wish to expand to. It was found that the pore sizes of M21-BU increased after compression, and the pore sizes of M4-0-2 decreased. The pore sizes of M21-BU became so large that the Knudsen effect is no longer of interest, and that could explain the different behaviors in thermal conductivity.

Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) represent a high performance thermal insulation material solution offering an alternative to thick wall sections and large amounts of traditional insulation in modern buildings. Thermalperformance over time is one of the most important properties of VIPs to be addressed, and thus the ageing effectson the thermal properties have been explored in this work. Laboratory studies of ageing effects are conducted over a relatively limited time frame. To be able to effectivelyevaluate ageing effects on thermal conductivity, accelerated ageing experiments are necessary. As of today, nocomplete standardized methods for accelerated ageing of VIPs exist. By studying the theoretical relationshipsbetween VIP properties and external environmental exposures, various possible factors for accelerated ageing areproposed. The factors that are found theoretically to contribute most to ageing of VIPs are elevated temperature,moisture and pressure. By varying these factors it is assumed that a substantial accelerated ageing of VIPs can beachieved.Four different accelerated ageing experiments have been performed to study whether the theoretical relationshipmay be replicated in practice. To evaluate the thermal performance of VIPs, thermal conductivity measurementshave been applied.The different experiments gave a varying degree of ageing effects. Generally the changes in thermal performancewere small. Results indicated that the acceleration effect was within what could be expected from theoreticalrelationships, but any definite conclusion is difficult to draw due to the small changes. Some physical changes wereobserved on the VIPs, i.e. swelling and curving. This might be an effect of the severe conditions experienced by theVIPs during testing, and too much emphasis on these should be avoided.
Vakuumisolasjonspaneler (VIP) er en høyisolerende materialløsning som kan være et alternativ til tradisjonell bygningsisolasjon. På grunn av god isolasjonsevne kan man ved bruk av VIP redusere veggtykkelsen og fortsatt tilfredsstille energikravene som stilles til moderne bygninger. En av de viktigste egenskapene for VIP er evnen til å bevare høy termisk ytelse over tid. I den sammenheng har aldringseffekter for VIP blitt undersøkt. Siden laboratoriestudier av aldringseffekter gjøres i løpet av et relativt kort tidsrom, er akselerert aldring nødvendig for å få evaluert termiske egenskaper over tid. Det finnes pr. i dag ingen standardisert metode for akselerert aldring av VIP. Det finnes likevel flere studier av sammenheng mellom klimaforhold og VIP egenskaper. Spesielt er gass og fuktdiffusjon inn i panelet behandlet grundig i litteraturen. Basert på dette er det foreslått flere mulige faktorer for aldring av VIP. De faktorene som er funnet å bidra mest til aldring av VIP er temperatur, fuktinnhold i lufta og utvendig lufttrykk. Ved å variere disse faktorene er fire forskjellige aldringsforsøk beskrevet og gjennomført.Konduktivitetsmålinger er blitt brukt som et mål på de termiske egenskapene til de testede VIPene. De forskjellige forsøkene viste forskjellig grad av aldringseffekt. Generelt var endringen i konduktivitetsverdier liten. Resultatene indikerer at akselerasjonseffekten var innenfor hva som kan forutsies fra de teoretiske sammenhengene. Likevel er det vanskelig å trekke noen definitive konklusjoner, både siden endringen var så liten, og fordi få paneler ble brukt i forsøkene. Noen fysiske endringer ble observert under forsøkene. Blant annet este et av panelene noe ut, mens et annet bøyde seg permanent. Man burde likevel ikke legge for mye vekt på disse effektene, siden de kan skyldes de relativt ekstreme testforholdene.

In this work a study has been performed to show the different kinds of insulated balcony connections exists on the market. In the work there is also a short description of thermal bridges concerning balconies. A description of older solutions for balcony connections is given as well as a calculation of the difference in energy costs for a insulated balcony connection compared to the standard connection. The work includes a short description of the different products. After that there is a short information about their insulation properties, durability, acoustic performance, assembly, computer programme and a short analyses for each product.

Vacuum insulation panels, VIPs, constitute a new insulation material, 6 to 8 times better than traditional insulation materials, which utilizes the positive influence vacuum has on the thermal properties of certain materials. A VIP is a composite with a flat core enclosed by an envelope preventing the core to fill with gas. The vacuum in the core is vital to reach thermal conductivities down to 0,0035 W/(m K), if the vacuum is lost the panel has reached the end of its service life time. Metal sheets would the preferred material to create an impermeable envelope but would creates a large thermal bridge at the edges of a panel when it folds over the edges of the panel.

A serpentine edge has been proposed in order to deal with this large thermal bridge. This serpentine edge has been evaluated first as a numeric model in software and then by measuring on a prototype edge element in a hot and cold plate instrument. Measured temperatures were used to validate the numerical model. Results show that a serpentine edge can greatly reduce the thermal bridge if designed correctly.

Another direction taken in the development of the VIP barrier is to use very thin metal layers, metallization layer or coating, incorporated into multi layered polymer composite film. This creates barrier films with very good barrier properties and only small thermal bridges. The modeling of gas flux through films with more than one coating has only just started. Existing models for flux through multi coated films all assume that flux is only taking place through defects in the coating layers, that all defects are of the same size and that all defects are positioned in square lattices. The model discussed herein use the same assumption of flux through pinholes only but it does take defect sizes and positions into account. Barrier film, from a regular vacuum insulation panel, with double coatings has been evaluated in light microscopy to characterize the defects in each of the coatings. The data found have been fed into the model and the results comply well with reported permeabilities of similar barrier films.

After extensive research during the last decades extruded polymeric insulation is now becoming an alternative to the traditional oil-paper systems for high voltage DC (HVDC) cables. Durability is of great importance for power cables, and the main purpose of this work has been to increase the knowledge of factors controlling the endurance of an extruded polymeric insulation under HVDC conditions. The effect of electrical and thermal ageing on electrical properties like space change accumulation, DC breakdown strength and electrical tree initiation has been investigated and related to changes in morphology, oxidation level and antioxidant concentration.

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) with and without an antioxidant additive was selected as insulating material. Test objects with plane electrodes or needle-plane electrodes were prepared by pressure moulding and equipped with aluminium electrodes. Iron particles with a diameter of 45 – 55 μm were introduced to simulate conducting contaminations in the insulation. The test objects were subjected to thermal ageing of 70°C and 90°C and the applied electrical field during ageing ranged from zero to 150 kV/mm. ageing was conducted both with constant DC polarity and with polarity reversals. The ageing period ranged from 4 weeks to 5 months.

Thermal oxidation was observed in LDPE without antioxidant and this clearly affected the electrical properties. The DC breakdown voltage was reduced by 40% and this was explained by enhanced high-field conduction and increased joule heating due to the oxidation products. It was found that oxidation was prohibited when the thickness of the aluminium electrodes increased.

Introduction of iron particles reduced the short term DC strength by 20 – 30%, but during long term ageing with constant DC voltage no difference was observed between test objects with and without particles. This was probably caused by screening of the particles by accumulated space charge.

The experiments showed that abrupt grounding or polarity reversal initiated electrical trees from the needle-electrodes. The longest trees were observed when the test objects had first been subjected to thermal and electrical ageing. The tree formation was caused by the high electrical field arising when the accumulated homocharge around the needle was converted to heterocharge at polarity or grounding,

The following main conclusions were made from the work:

*Oxidation is detrimental and must be avoided in HVDC insulation.

* The antioxidant additive can have a negative influence on the electrical properties under HVDC stress.

*Polarity reversal or abrupt grounding can initiate electrical trees from protrusions present at the electrode-insulation interface of a HVDC insulation system.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2011.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 169-177).
Aerogels are well known as exceptional thermal insulators. Thermal conductivities of 9 to 10 mW/m.K have been achieved at atmospheric pressure, and a moderate vacuum (between 1/3 and 1/10 of an atmosphere) can lower this number even further, to around 5 mW/m.K. However aerogels for insulation purposes are not widespread on the market. One of the major shortcomings of aerogels that prevent them from being more widely used is their extreme mechanical weakness and brittleness. In this thesis, we characterize and explain these low mechanical properties. We then propose a composite structure for a rigid aerogel panel, a sandwich panel with a truss core filled with monolithic aerogel. Mechanical and thermal properties are derived and partially tested for the truss cores. Several designs are studied and mechanical properties are derived in order to compare these designs. Some criteria for an efficient designs are given. Finally, we describe a first attempt to manufacture one of these composite structures on a small scale.
by Thomas Goutierre.
S.M.

In-cylinder thermal barrier materials have been thoroughly investigated for their potential improvements in thermal efficiency in reciprocating internal combustion engines. These materials show improvements both directly in indicated work and indirectly through reduced demand on the cooling system. Many experimental and analytical sources have shown reductions in heat losses to the combustion chamber walls, but converting the additional thermal energy to indicated work has proven more difficult. Gains in indicated work over the expansion stroke could be made, but these were negated by increased compression work and reduced volumetric efficiency due to charge heating. Typically, the only improvements in brake work would come from the pumping loop in turbocharged engines, or from additional exhaust energy extraction through turbine-compounding devices. The concept of inter-cycle wall-temperature-swing holds promise to reap the benefits of insulation during combustion and expansion, while not suffering the penalties incurred with hotter walls during intake and compression. The combination of low volumetric heat capacity and low thermal conductivity would allow the combustion chamber surface temperature to quickly respond to the gas temperature throughout combustion. Surface temperatures are capable of rising in response to the spike in heat flux, thereby minimizing the temperature difference between the gas and wall early in the expansion stroke when the greatest conversion of thermal energy to mechanical work is possible. The combination of low heat capacity and thermal conductivity is essential in allowing this temperature increase during combustion, and in enabling the surface to cool during expansion and exhaust to avoid harmfully affecting engine volumetric efficiency during the intake stroke and minimizing compression work performed on the next stroke. In this thesis, thermal and thermodynamic models are constructed in an attempt to predict the effects of material properties in the walls, and to characterize the effects of heat transfer at different portions of the cycle on indicated work, volumetric efficiency, exhaust energy and gas temperatures of a reciprocating internal combustion engine. The expected impact on combustion knock in spark-ignited engines was also considered, as this combustion mode was the basis for the experimental engine testing performed. Conventional insulating materials were evaluated to benchmark the current state-of-the-art, and to gain experience in the analysis of materials with temperature-swing capability. Unfortunately, the effects of permeable porosity within the conventional coating on heat losses, fuel absorption and compression ratio tended to mask the effects of temperature swing. The individual impact of each of these loss mechanisms on engine performance was analyzed, and the experience helped to further refine the necessary traits of a successful temperature-swing material Finally, from the learnings of this analysis phase, a novel material was created and applied to the piston surface, intake valve faces, and exhaust valve faces. Engine data was taken with these coated components and compared to an un-coated baseline. While some of the test pieces physically survived the testing, analysis of the data suggests that they were not fully sealed and suffered from the same permeability losses that affected the conventional insulation. Further development is necessary to arrive at a robust, effective solution for minimizing heat transfer through wall temperature swing in reciprocating internal combustion engines. The success of temperature-swing thermal barrier materials requires very low thermal conductivity, heat capacity, and appropriate insulation thickness, as well as resilient sealing of any porous volume within the coating to avoid additional heat and fuel energy losses throughout the cycle.
Los materiales aislantes han sido investigados a fondo por sus posibles mejoras en la eficiencia térmica de los motores de combustión interna alternativos. Estas mejoras se ven reflejadas tanto directamente en el trabajo indicado como indirectamente a través de la reducción del sistema de refrigeración del propio motor. Diferentes estudios, tanto experimentales como analíticos, han mostrado la reducción en la transferencia de calor a través de las paredes de la cámara de combustión mediante la utilización de estos materiales. Sin embargo, demostrar la conversión de la energía térmica adicional en trabajo indicado ha resultado más difícil. En ciertos estudios se pudieron obtener mejoras en el trabajo indicado durante la carrera de expansión, pero éstas fueron reducidas debido a un menor rendimiento volumétrico debido al calentamiento de la carga durante el proceso de admisión y un mayor trabajo en la carrera de compresión. Típicamente, las únicas mejoras en el trabajo al freno provendrían de la reducción de pérdidas por bombeo en los motores turboalimentados, o de la extracción de la energía adicional de los gases de escape a través de turbinas. El concepto de los materiales con oscilación de la temperatura durante el ciclo motor intenta aprovechar los beneficios del aislamiento durante los procesos de combustión y expansión, mitigando las perdidas por el incremento de la temperatura de las paredes durante la admisión y la compresión. La combinación de baja capacidad calorífica y baja conductividad térmica permitiría que la temperatura de la superficie de la cámara de combustión respondiera rápidamente a la temperatura del gas durante el proceso de combustión. Las temperaturas de la superficie son capaces de aumentar en respuesta al pico de flujo de calor, minimizando así la diferencia de temperatura entre el gas y la pared en la carrera de expansión cuando es posible la mayor conversión de energía térmica en trabajo mecánico. La combinación de baja capacidad calorífica y conductividad térmica es también esencial para permitir este aumento de temperatura durante la combustión y para permitir que la superficie se enfríe durante la expansión y el escape para no perjudicar así el rendimiento volumétrico del motor durante la carrera de admisión y minimizar el trabajo de compresión realizado en el siguiente ciclo. En esta tesis se han desarrollado modelos térmicos y termodinámicos para predecir los efectos de las propiedades de los materiales en las paredes y caracterizar los efectos de la transferencia de calor en diferentes partes del ciclo sobre el trabajo indicado, el rendimiento volumétrico, la energía en los gases de escape y las temperaturas del gas para un motor de combustión interna alternativo. También se ha evaluado el impacto del uso de estos materiales en el knock en motores de combustión de encendido provocado, ya que los estudios experimentales de esta tesis se realizaron en un motor de estas características. Durante la investigación se evaluaron materiales aislantes convencionales para comprender el estado actual de esta técnica y para adquirir también experiencia en el análisis de materiales aislantes con oscilación de temperatura. Desafortunadamente, los efectos de la permeabilidad a través de la porosidad del material en los recubrimientos convencionales, la absorción de combustible y la relación de compresión tendieron a ocultar los efectos de la oscilación de la temperatura y la reducción de la transferencia de calor a través de las paredes. Así pues, se analizó el impacto individual de cada uno de estos mecanismos y su influencia en el rendimiento del motor para así definir un nuevo material con las características necesarias que mejorasen el aislante con de oscilación de temperatura. Finalmente, a partir de los estudios de esta fase de análisis, se creó un nuevo material y se aplicó a la superficie del pistón y a la supe
Els materials aïllants han estat investigats a fons per les seves possibles millores en l'eficiència tèrmica en el motors de combustió interna alternatius. Aquestes millores es veuen reflectides tant directament en el treball indicat com indirectament a través de la reducció del sistema de refrigeració del propi motor. Diferents estudis, tant experimentals com analítics, han mostrat la reducció en la transferència de calor a través de les parets de la cambra de combustió mitjançant la utilització d'aquests materials. No obstant això, demostrar la conversió de l'energia tèrmica addicional en treball indicat ha resultat més difícil. En certs estudis es van poder obtenir millores en el treball indicat durant la carrera d'expansió, però aquestes van ser reduïdes a causa d'un menor rendiment volumètric causat de l'escalfament de la càrrega durant el procés d'admissió i un major treball en la carrera de compressió. Típicament, les úniques millores en el treball al fre provindrien de la reducció de pèrdues per bombeig en els motors turbo alimentats, o de l'extracció addicional de l'energia dels gasos d'escapament a través de turbines. El concepte dels materials amb oscil·lació de la temperatura durant el cicle motor intenta aprofitar els beneficis de l'aïllament durant els processos de combustió i expansió, mitigant les perdudes per l'increment de la temperatura de les parets durant l'admissió i la compressió. La combinació de baixa capacitat calorífica i baixa conductivitat tèrmica permetria que la temperatura de la superfície de la cambra de combustió respongués ràpidament a la temperatura del gas durant el procés de combustió. Les temperatures de la superfície són capaços d'augmentar en resposta al flux de calor, minimitzant així la diferència de temperatura entre el gas i la paret en la carrera d'expansió quan és possible la major conversió d'energia tèrmica en treball mecànic. La combinació de baixa capacitat calorífica i conductivitat tèrmica és també essencial per permetre aquest augment de temperatura durant la combustió i el refredament de la superfície durant l'expansió i l'escapament per no perjudicar així el rendiment volumètric del motor durant la carrera d'admissió i minimitzar el treball de compressió realitzat en el següent cicle. En aquesta tesi s'han desenvolupat models tèrmics i termodinàmics per predir els efectes de les propietats dels materials en les parets i caracteritzar els efectes de la transferència de calor en diferents parts del cicle sobre el treball indicat, el rendiment volumètric, l'energia en els gasos d'escapament i les temperatures del gas per un motor de combustió interna alternatiu. També s'ha avaluat l'impacte d'aquests materials en el knock en motors de combustió d'encesa provocada, ja que les proves experimentals d'aquesta tesi es van realitzar en un motor d'aquestes característiques. Durant la investigació es van avaluar materials aïllants convencionals per comprendre l'estat actual d'aquesta tècnica i per adquirir també experiència en l'anàlisi de materials aïllants amb oscil·lació de temperatura. Desafortunadament, els efectes de la permeabilitat a través de la porositat del material en el recobriment convencional, l'absorció de combustible i la relació de compressió van tendir a ocultar els efectes de l'oscil·lació de la temperatura i la reducció de la transferència de calor a través de les parets. Així doncs, es va analitzar l'impacte individual de cada un d'aquests mecanismes i la seva influència en el rendiment del motor per així definir un nou material amb les característiques necessàries que milloressin el aïllant d'oscil·lació de temperatura. Finalment, a partir dels estudis d'aquesta fase d'anàlisi, es va crear un nou material i es va aplicar a la superfície del pistó i a la superfície interna de les vàlvules d'admissió i d'escapament. Les dades de motor es van prendre a
Andruskiewicz, PP. (2017). ANALYTICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF TEMPERATURE-SWING INSULATION ON ENGINE PERFORMANCE [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/90467
TESIS

Today’s buildings are responsible for 40% of the world’s energy use and also a substantial share of the Global Warming Potential (GWP). In Sweden, about 21% of the energy use can be related to the heat losses through the climatic envelope. The “Million Program” (Swedish: Miljonprogrammet) is a common name for about one million housing units, erected between 1965 and 1974 and many of these buildings suffer from poor energy performance. An important aim of this study was to access the possibilities of using Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs) in buildings with emphasis on the use of VIPs for improving the thermal efficiency of the “Million Program” buildings. The VIPs have a thermal resistance of about 8-10 times better than conventional insulations and offer unique opportunities to reduce the thickness of the thermal insulation. This thesis is divided into three main subjects. The first subject aims to investigate new alternative VIP cores that may reduce the market price of VIPs. Three newly developed nanoporous silica were tested using different steady-state and transient methods. A new self-designed device, connected to a Transient Plane Source (TPS) instrument was used to determine the thermal conductivity of granular powders at different gaseous pressure combined with different mechanical loads. The conclusion was that the TPS technique is less suitable for conducting thermal conductivity measurements on low-density nanoporous silica powders. However, deviations in the results are minimal for densities above a limit at which the pure conduction becomes dominant compared to heat transfer by radiation. The second subject of this work was to propose a new and robust VIP mounting system, with minimized thermal bridges, for improving the thermal efficiency of the “Million Program” buildings. On the basis of the parametric analysis and dynamic simulations, a new VIP mounting system was proposed and evaluated through full scale measurements in a climatic chamber. The in situ measurements showed that the suggested new VIP technical solution, consisting of 20mm thick VIPs, can improve the thermal transmittance of the wall, up to a level of 56%. An improved thermal transmittance of the wall at centre-of-panel coordinate of 0.118 to 0.132 W m-2K-1 and a measured centre-of-panel thermal conductivity (λcentre-of-panel) of 7 mW m-1K-1 were reached. Furthermore, this thesis includes a new approach to measure the thermal bridge impacts due to the VIP joints and laminates, through conducting infrared thermography investigations. An effective thermal conductivity of 10.9 mW m-1K-1 was measured. The higher measured centre-of-panel and effective thermal conductivities than the published centre-of-panel thermal conductivity of 4.2 mW m-1K-1 from the VIP manufacturer, suggest that the real thermal performance of VIPs, when are mounted in construction, is comparatively worse than of the measured performance in the laboratory. An effective thermal conductivity of 10.9 mW m-1K-1 will, however, provide an excellent thermal performance to the construction. The third subject of this thesis aims to assess the environmental impacts of production and operation of VIP-insulated buildings, since there is a lack of life cycle analysis of whole buildings with vacuum panels. It was concluded that VIPs have a greater environmental impact than conventional insulation, in all categories except Ozone Depilation Potential. The VIPs have a measurable influence on the total Global Warming Potential and Primary Energy use of the buildings when both production and operation are taken into account. However, the environmental effect of using VIPs is positive when compared to the GWP of a standard building (a reduction of 6%) while the PE is increased by 20%. It was concluded that further promotion of VIPs will benefit from reduced energy use or alternative energy sources in the production of VIP cores while the use of alternative cores and recycling of VIP cores may also help reduce the environmental impact. Also, a sensitivity analysis of this study showed that the choice of VIPs has a significant effect on the environmental impacts, allowing for a reduction of the total PE of a building by 12% and the GWP can be reduced as much as 11% when considering both production and operation of 50 yes. Finally, it’s possible to conclude that the VIPs are very competitive alternative for insulating buildings from the Swedish “Million Program”. Nevertheless, further investigations require for minimizing the measurable environmental impacts that acquired in this LCA study for the VIP-insulated buildings.
Dagens byggnader ansvarar för omkring 40% av världens energianvändning och  står också för en väsentlig del av utsläppen av växthusgaser. I Sverige kan ca 21 % av energianvändningen relateras till förluster genom klimatskalet. Miljonprogrammet är ett namn för omkring en miljon bostäder som byggdes mellan 1965 och 1974, och många av dessa byggnader har en dålig energiprestanda efter dagens mått. Huvudsyftet med denna studie har varit att utforska möjligheterna att använda vakuumisoleringspaneler (VIP:ar) i byggnader med viss fokus på tillämpning i Miljonprogrammets byggnader. Med en värmeledningsförmåga som är ca 8 - 10 gånger bättre än för traditionell isolering erbjuder VIP:arna unika möjligheter till förbättrad termisk prestanda med minimal isolerings tjocklek. Denna avhandling hade tre huvudsyften. Det första var att undersöka nya alternativ för kärnmaterial som bland annat kan reducera kostnaden vid produktion av VIP:ar. Tre nyutvecklade nanoporösa kiselpulver har testats med olika stationära och transienta metoder. En inom projektet utvecklad testbädd som kan anslutas till TPS instrument (Transient Plane Source sensor), har använts för att mäta värmeledningsförmågan hos kärnmaterial för VIP:ar, vid varierande gastryck och olika mekaniska laster. Slutsatsen blev att transienta metoder är mindre lämpliga för utföra mätningar av värmeledningsförmåga för nanoporösa kiselpulver låg densitet. Avvikelsen i resultaten är dock minimal för densiteter ovan en gräns då värmeledningen genom fasta material blir dominerande jämfört med värmeöverföring genom strålning. Det andra syftet har varit att föreslå ett nytt monteringssystem för VIP:ar som kan användas för att förbättra energieffektiviteten i byggnader som är typiska för Miljonprogrammet. Genom parametrisk analys och dynamiska simuleringar har vi kommit fram till ett förslag på ett nytt monteringssystem för VIP:ar som har utvärderats genom fullskaleförsök i klimatkammare. Resultaten från fullskaleförsöken visar att den nya tekniska lösningen förbättrar väggens U-värde med upp till 56 %. En förbättrad värmegenomgångskoefficienten för väggen i mitten av en VIP blev mellan 0.118 till 0,132 W m-2K-1 och värmeledningstalet centre-av-panel 7 mW m-1K-1 uppnåddes. Detta arbete innehåller dessutom en ny metod för att mäta köldbryggor i anslutningar med hjälp av infraröd termografi. En effektiv värmeledningsförmåga för 10.9 mW m-1K-1 uppnåddes. Resultaten tyder även på att den verkliga termiska prestandan av VIP:ar i konstruktioner är något sämre än mätvärden för paneler i laboratorium. En effektiv värmeledningsförmåga av 10.9 mW m-1K-1 ger dock väggkonstruktionen en utmärkt termisk prestanda. Det tredje syftet har varit att bedöma miljöpåverkan av en VIP-isolerad byggnad, från produktion till drift, eftersom en livscykelanalys av hela byggnader som är isolerade med vakuumisoleringspaneler inte har gjorts tidigare. Slutsatsen var att VIP:ar har en större miljöpåverkan än traditionell isolering, i alla kategorier förutom ozonnedbrytande potential. VIP:ar har en mätbar påverkan på de totala utsläppen av växthusgaser och primärenergianvändningen i byggnader när både produktion och drift beaktas. Miljöpåverkan av de använda VIP:arna är dock positiv jämfört med GWP av en standardbyggnad (en minskning med 6 %) medan primärenergianvändningen ökade med 20 %. Slutsatsen var att ytterligare användning av VIP:ar gynnas av reducerad energiförbrukning och alternativa energikällor i produktionen av nanoporösa kiselpulver medan användningen av alternativa kärnmaterial och återvinning av VIP kärnor kan hjälpa till att minska miljöpåverkan. En känslighetsanalys visade att valet av VIP:ar har en betydande inverkan på miljöpåverkan, vilket ger möjlighet att reducera den totala användningen av primärenergi i en byggnad med 12 % och utsläppen av växthusgaser kan vara minska, så mycket som 11 % när det gäller både produktion och drift under 50 år. Avslutningsvis är det möjligt att dra slutsatsen att VIP:ar är ett mycket konkurrenskraftigt alternativ för att isolera byggnader som är typiska för Miljonprogrammet. Dock krävs ytterligare undersökningar för att minimera de mätbara miljöeffekter som förvärvats i denna LCA-studie för VIP-isolerade byggnader.

QC 20151109

Simulations of heat and moisture conditions in a retrofit wall construction with Vacuum Insulation Panels
Textural and thermal conductivity properties of a low density mesoporous silica material
A study of the thermal conductivity of granular silica materials for VIPs at different levels of gaseous pressure and external loads
Evaluation of the thermal conductivity of a new nanoporous silica material for VIPs – trends of thermal conductivity versus density
A comparative study of the environmental impact of Swedish residential buildings with vacuum insulation panels
ETICS with VIPs for improving buildings from the Swedish million unit program “Miljonprogrammet”

Insulating sheets, impregnants and encapsulation materials commonly used for winding insulation offer low thermal conductivities. This leads to an increased heating of the winding of electrical machines and to the existence of hotspots. The electromagnetical utilization of the machine has to be reduced with respect to the allowed maximum winding temperature. In this paper, the development and experimental investigation of novel polysiloxane composites with ceramic fillers are presented. The materials are tested by means of impregnated and encapsulated samples of a round-wire winding as well as the main insulation of electrical steel sheets and laminated cores. Numerical models are implemented for determining the equivalent thermal conductivity of the winding compound comprising the enameled wire and the impregnant. Based on the example of a permanent-magnet synchronous machine with outer-rotor in modular construction, the potential for increasing the electromagnetical utilization is shown.

The main objective of the thesis is to study the thermal properties of Si-based polymer derived ceramics (PDCs) at elevated temperatures and to classify the main factors affecting the thermal transport through these ceramics. The polymer derived ceramics with the chemistry Si- O-C-N were prepared starting from commercial polycarbosilane, polysiloxane, and polysilazane precursors. These precursors are cross-linked at room temperature to obtain the preceramic, followed by controlled pyrolysis (at different temperatures ranging from 1200 oC to 1800 oC in argon, nitrogen or carbon-di-oxide atmospheres), to get the final ceramic. The first part of the thesis discusses on development and studies of dense polymer derived thin disks having a basic chemistry, Si-C, Si-O- C, and, Si-C-N-O, developed via a casting technique followed by specific pyrolysis cycles. Having a thickness in the range of 100 μm- 300 μm, these ceramic disks were studied to be nanocrystalline/amorphous at least up to a temperature of 1400 oC and were found to have a significant amount of Cfree phase existing in them along with the intended chemistry. The high-temperature thermal properties were primarily investigated on ceramics prepared at a pyrolysis temperature of 1200 oC (ceramic still in nanocrystalline/amorphous glassy phase). The disks were found to have very low expansion coefficients (CTE) measured up to ~900 oC and the thermal diffusivity (k) and thermal conductivity (l) of these disks were also measured. An attempt to understand the influence of the different phases in a SiOC ceramic (mainly the Cfree phase, studied by enriching the carbon percentages using DVB) in determining the final thermal properties was also conducted. The influence of carbon enrichment on the mechanical properties of these disks is also studied as a sub-part of this work. The second part of the work deals with testing the possibility to use these ceramics for high-temperature insulation applications. ‘Reticulated’ ceramic foams of relatively same chemistries as that of the disks were prepared by a template replica approach, using polyurethane (PU) foams (more open-celled to more closed-celled types of PU foams were used in the study) as the template. Porous structures having densities ranging from as low as 0.02 g.cm-3 to 0.56 g.cm-3 and with a porosity ~ 80 % to ~99% were prepared and tested. The developed foams showed excellent thermal stability up to a temperature of 1400 oC and possessed very low thermal expansion. The thermal conductivity measured on them at RT gave values in the range 0.03 W.m-1.K-1- 0.25 W.m-1.K-1. A Gibson-Ashby modeling approach to explain the thermal conductivity of the porous ceramics was also attempted. The developed foams were also found to be mechanically rigid. In a nutshell, the thesis work studies the thermal properties of Si-O-C- N ceramics in detail and probes into the possibility to develop these class of Si-O-C-N ceramics into promising high-temperature insulation material.

The main objective of the thesis is to study the thermal properties of Si-based polymer derived ceramics (PDCs) at elevated temperatures and to classify the main factors affecting the thermal transport through these ceramics. The polymer derived ceramics with the chemistry Si- O-C-N were prepared starting from commercial polycarbosilane, polysiloxane, and polysilazane precursors. These precursors are cross-linked at room temperature to obtain the preceramic, followed by controlled pyrolysis (at different temperatures ranging from 1200 oC to 1800 oC in argon, nitrogen or carbon-di-oxide atmospheres), to get the final ceramic. The first part of the thesis discusses on development and studies of dense polymer derived thin disks having a basic chemistry, Si-C, Si-O- C, and, Si-C-N-O, developed via a casting technique followed by specific pyrolysis cycles. Having a thickness in the range of 100 μm- 300 μm, these ceramic disks were studied to be nanocrystalline/amorphous at least up to a temperature of 1400 oC and were found to have a significant amount of Cfree phase existing in them along with the intended chemistry. The high-temperature thermal properties were primarily investigated on ceramics prepared at a pyrolysis temperature of 1200 oC (ceramic still in nanocrystalline/amorphous glassy phase). The disks were found to have very low expansion coefficients (CTE) measured up to ~900 oC and the thermal diffusivity (k) and thermal conductivity (l) of these disks were also measured. An attempt to understand the influence of the different phases in a SiOC ceramic (mainly the Cfree phase, studied by enriching the carbon percentages using DVB) in determining the final thermal properties was also conducted. The influence of carbon enrichment on the mechanical properties of these disks is also studied as a sub-part of this work. The second part of the work deals with testing the possibility to use these ceramics for high-temperature insulation applications. ‘Reticulated’ ceramic foams of relatively same chemistries as that of the disks were prepared by a template replica approach, using polyurethane (PU) foams (more open-celled to more closed-celled types of PU foams were used in the study) as the template. Porous structures having densities ranging from as low as 0.02 g.cm-3 to 0.56 g.cm-3 and with a porosity ~ 80 % to ~99% were prepared and tested. The developed foams showed excellent thermal stability up to a temperature of 1400 oC and possessed very low thermal expansion. The thermal conductivity measured on them at RT gave values in the range 0.03 W.m-1.K-1- 0.25 W.m-1.K-1. A Gibson-Ashby modeling approach to explain the thermal conductivity of the porous ceramics was also attempted. The developed foams were also found to be mechanically rigid. In a nutshell, the thesis work studies the thermal properties of Si-O-C- N ceramics in detail and probes into the possibility to develop these class of Si-O-C-N ceramics into promising high-temperature insulation material.

Buildings consume around half of the UK's total energy consumption and are responsible for almost 50% of UK's total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Use of high thermal resistance insulation in buildings is critical to save the substantial amounts of space heating energy lost through building fabric. Conventional building insulation materials have higher thermal conductivity values ranging from 40 mWm-1K-1 (Glass fibre) - 26 mWm-1K-1 (Polyurethane foam) and require larger thicknesses to achieve stringent building regulation requirements which may not be feasible due to techno-economic constraints. Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP) is a relatively new insulation for building applications that offers 5-8 times higher thermal resistance and can achieve significant space savings in buildings. VIPs are produced as a rigid panel comprising inner core board laminated in an outer high barrier envelope under evacuated conditions (< 5mbar). However, the main challenge for large scale acceptance of VIPs in building applications is their higher cost. VIPs have been shown to have an approximately 10 times longer payback compared to conventional EPS insulation due to their high initial cost. Expensive materials currently being used for VIP manufacturing such as fumed silica contribute to high cost of VIPs and it is critical to identify alternative low cost materials for VIP components to overcome the challenge of high cost. The aim of this thesis was to develop an alternative low cost material and investigate its suitability for use as VIP core. Expanded perlite, a low cost material was identified as a replacement of expensive fumed silica in a VIP core. Composite samples containing expanded perlite, fumed silica, silicon carbide (SiC) and polyester fibres were developed by dry mixing of the constituents in different mass ratios and their different properties were experimentally measured to identify optimum composition of composite. Gaseous thermal conductivity at different pressures was calculated from the pore size data obtained using Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP), gas adsorption and electron microscopy. Radiative conductivity of composite samples was measured using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) to ascertain the opacifying effect of expanded perlite and opacifier (SiC). Centre of panel thermal conductivity of core boards of size 100mm x 100mm made of composite material at atmospheric pressure was measured by using a small guarded hot plate device. Average pore diameter values of expanded perlite decreased with the partial filling of fumed silica aggregates and was found to be in the range of 150-300 nm yielding lower gaseous conductivity values of 1.2-2.1 mWm-1K-1 at 100mbar and became negligible upon further decreasing pressures below 10 mbar. Core boards made of optimised composite containing 30% expanded perlite and 50% fumed silica along with SiC and polyester fibres was found to achieve centre of panel thermal conductivity of 28 mWm-1K-1 at atmospheric pressure and the average radiative conductivity of 0.67 mWm-1K-1 at 300K with its gaseous thermal conductivity at 1 mbar being 0.016 mWm-1K-1. According to the results of the thesis VIP prototypes consisting of core made with optimised composite consisting (50 mass% of fumed silica, 30 mass% of expanded perlite along with 8 mass% of fibre and 12 mass% of SiC) yielded centre of panel thermal conductivity of 7.4-7.6 mWm-1K-1 at pressure of 0.53-0.64 mbar. Opacifying properties of expanded perlite were observed and quantified. Expanded perlite reduced the radiative conductivity of the composite requiring smaller quantities of high density opacifiers such as SiC. For sample containing no expanded perlite, average radiative conductivity was calculated to be 1.37 mWm-1K-1 and radiative conductivity values decreased to 1.12 mWm-1K-1, 0.67 mWm-1K-1, 0.63 mWm-1K-1 and 0.50 mWm-1K-1 with mass ratio of expanded perlite 20%, 30%, 40% and 60% respectively. It was concluded that the solid conductivity of prototypes VIPs was 1.8-2 times higher compared to those of commercially available VIPs and is the main reason for higher centre of panel thermal conductivity.

This study involves the modification of a bio-based aggregate, hemp shiv, using functionalised silica-based coatings. This is the first time sol-gel technology is used in the treatment of hemp shiv to develop sustainable thermal insulation building materials with enhanced hygrothermal properties. Bio-based materials such as hemp shiv have a tendency to absorb large amounts of water due to their hydrophilic nature and highly porous structure. In contrast, the high porosity of hemp shiv provides excellent moisture buffering and thermal insulating properties. In this work, the hydrophilicity of the hemp shiv was reduced without compromising its moisture buffering ability. A detailed investigation into the physical and chemical properties, surface roughness, porosity and microstructure of hemp shiv is presented. Application of coatings on hemp shiv was found to alter the properties of hemp shiv. The focus of this work was to particularly enhance the water-resistance of hemp shiv without significantly altering the morphology and microstructure of hemp shiv. The coatings were formulated by the cohydrolysis and polycondensation of tetraethoxyorthosilicate (TEOS). The effect of methytriethoxysilane (MTES) and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS) as functionalising agents in the coating was evaluated. The impact of precursors and their concentration in the coating formulation showed varying results on the hydrophobicity and roughness of hemp shiv. Furthermore, the porosity of hemp shiv was affected by the number of coating layers thereby blocking the pores responsible for the moisture buffering behaviour of hemp shiv. The selected coating formulation was found to increase the hydrophobicity of hemp shiv providing water contact angles up to 118° and reducing the water absorption rates by 250% without showing a significant reduction in the moisture absorption capacity. Novel thermal insulation building composites were developed using the coated hemp shiv in both a silica and a starch-based matrix. The composites were characterised for their hygrothermal, physical and mechanical properties where it was found that the sol-gel coating reduced water absorption capacity without affecting the moisture buffering ability of the composites. The newly designed light weight high performance composites have potential as sustainable thermal insulators and can establish innovative concepts for global application.

Poly(vinyl chloride)(PVC) wire and cable insulation has poor thermal stability, causing the plasticizer to separate from the PVC chain and produce an oily residue, lowering the tensile elongation at break and thus increasing brittleness. We have added 4 wt.% of three different types of cross-linking agents and antioxidants, as well as mixtures of both, to improve the thermal stability of the plasticizer and tensile properties of PVC after thermal exposure. We performed tensile tests, tribological tests, profilometry, scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and water absorption determination before and after thermal exposure at 136 ℃ for 1 week. After adding the agents, elongation at break increased by 10 to 20 % while the wear rate and water absorption were lower than for the control sample. Less voids are seen in the SEM images after adding these two kinds of agents. The thermal resistance of the PVC cable insulation is best enhanced by combinations of cross-linking agents and antioxidants.

A comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed on two natural fibre thermal insulation products made from hemp and sheep wool and a benchmark mineral wool product. The assessment revealed both advantages and some disadvantages with the natural fibre materials. A major finding was the particularly low or absent impact in terms of global warming potential shown by the natural fibre materials. This was caused by the renewable carbon sequestered in the material withdrawing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. With regard to the end of the product life, the study showed that only a proportion of the total amount of carbon dioxide was released in landfilling and composting scenarios. Dynamic vapour sorption analysis was conducted on varied natural fibres in order to develop a protocol for studying moisture sorption in natural fibres. Data from these studies were subsequently used in calculating the integral heat of wetting in hemp fibres. The energy release caused by the quantity of material studied in the LCA during predicted relative humidity fluctuations was found unlikely to affect the results of the LCA. However, where large quantities of natural fibres are used throughout a construction the heat of wetting may produce a notable difference in the internal temperature of a building and provide a degree of passive environmental control.

Electrical machines in electrified heavy-duty vehicles are subjected to dynamic temperature loadings during normal operation due to the different driving conditions. The Electrical Insulation System (EIS) in a stator winding is aged as an effect of these dynamic thermal loads. The thermal loads are usually high constant temperatures and thermal cycling. The high average constant thermal load is well-known in the electrical machine industry but little is known about the effect of temperature cycling. In this project, the ageing of the EIS in stator windings due to temperature cycling is examined. In this project, computational simulations of different simplified models that represent the electrical insulation system are made to analyse the thermo-mechanical stresses that is induced due to thermal cycling. Furthermore, a test object was designed and simulated to replicate the stress levels obtained from the simulations. The test object is to ease the physical testing of electrical insulation system. Testing a complete stator takes time and has the disadvantage of having a high mass, therefore a test object is designed and a test method is provided. The results from the finite element analysis indicate that the mechanical stresses induced will affect the lifetime of the electrical insulation system. A sensitivity study of several thermal cycling parameters was performed, the stator core length, the cycle rate and the temperature cycle amplitude. The results obtained indicate that the stator core length is too short to have a significant effect on the thermo-mechanical stresses induced. The results of the sensitivity study of the temperature cycle rate and the temperature cycle amplitude showed that these parameters increase the thermo-mechanical stresses induced. The results from the simulations of the test object is similar to the results from the simulations of the stator windings, which means that the tests object is valid for testing. The test method that is most appropriate is the power cycling test method, because it replicates the actual application of stator windings. The thermally induced stresses exposing the slot insulation exceeds the yield strength of the material, therefore plastic deformation may occur only after one thermal cycle. The other components in the stator are exposed to stresses below the yield strength. The thermally induced stresses exposing the slot insulation are high enough to low cycle fatigue the electrical insulation system, thus thermo-mechanical fatigue is an ageing factor of the electrical insulation system.

The increasing quantity of waste represents serious environmental, social and economic problem. Wastes produced from industry and households. A large part of the economy transforms a certain amount of raw materials to waste in their production, because it is currently emphasis is placed on finding sustainable sources of raw materials. One of the suitable secondary raw materials can be discarded textiles or waste from the textile industry. These kinds of textile waste often ends up in landfills or incinerators, so it is from an ecological and environmentally advantageous to their further use. The diploma thesis deals with the study and development of thermal and acoustic insulation materials based on textile fibers. It focuses on the legislative requirements for waste management for the sorting of textile wastes and their subsequent modification before reuse. Further it contains kinds of textile fibers and bonding technologies thermal and acoustic insulation materials. Finally, an evaluation of thermal insulation, acoustic and mechanical properties of fibrous insulation materials.

Internal insulation in a solid rocket motor is a layer of heat-barrier material placed between the internal surface of the case and the propellant. The primary function of internal insulation is to prevent the rocket motor case from reaching temperatures that may endanger its structural integrity. An extensive experimental and theoretical work in the development and characterization of asbestos-free rubbers for use as rocket motor insulators has been performed. The insulation is based on chopped carbon fiber and/or aramid fiber in the pulp form as fillers for Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM). The first aim of the research is to provide an understanding of the mechanism, the principle, and the process for making polymeric thermal insulants. The second aim is to produce thermal insulants based on polymers with different fillers having different compositions which are capable of working under extreme thermal conditions of 2760 °C (5000 °F). This is through an investigation on the processing, installation, physical, mechanical, thermal and ablative properties of these materials. A hybrid of chopped carbon fiber and Kevlar pulp filled EPDM has been shown to exhibit better thermal, mechanical, physical and ablative properties than its asbestos containing counterpart. Also the prediction of thermal conduction of multiphase thermal insulation composite materials was done using series, parallel, Maxwell Euken and effective medium theory models. Comparison with the measured values allows determining which model estimates best the thermal conductivity of composite insulation material. Development of a suitable optimization technique to reach the best parameters of the selected material was done by doing transient dynamic analysis to determine the response of these materials under a time-varying thermal load. A new type of insulation material using prepregs was developed for the first time. This consists of the development of the prepregs and their assembly to make insulant laminates. This laminate has been shown to exhibit better physical, mechanical, thermal and ablative properties than a hybrid of chopped carbon fiber and Kevlar pulp filled EPDM.

The application of insulation material to the surfaces of airways has the potential of reducing the heat load on the ventilation air of deep mi ne s. This study aims at assessing the viability of this technique. Previous investigations on heat transfer from insulated airways are reviewed and are found to be flawed or out of date. A more reliable thermal analysis is presented This shows that reductions in heat load of 50 to 70 percent can be achieved in fully insulated tunnels, 20 to 40 per cent with partial insulation (footwall uninsulated) and less than 20 per cent with the footwall both uninsulated and Net. Nomograms are presented which predict the reduction in heat load for a wide range of conditions An experimental study on tunnel insulation in a deep gold mine is reported The reductions in heat load were 57 per cent with full insulation, and 30 per cent with partial insulation. These values are lower than those predicted, namely 71 and 50 per cent respectively, largely because of the uneven thickness of the insulation layer Guidelines are provided for the selection of insulation systems. Estimates of the financial benefits accruing from the insulation of airways are presented.

博士
崑山科技大學
機械與能源工程研究所
103
In general, industry thermal insulation and waterproofing layer are separated quite not convenient for the construction, lengthen working hours and reducing space. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to develop the new type of building material that makes construction wall surface waterproof, well-ventilated and thermally-insulated while possess a beautiful appearance and rigid structure, thereby achieving greater efficiency. Kun Shan University Heat insulation technology research Department has joined with National Cheng Kung University Waterproof TecHome Technology Co., Ltd. to cooperate and develop the research products, for which two patents have been applied. Results of this preliminary study have shown that this multi-layer structure could bring back higher durability for building walls. The research results are as follows: 1. Adhesive layer selection of Thermal Insulation material On cost considerations, suggested use Phase Change Materials to thermal insulation. 2. Multi-functional composite layer structure with economic cost Without changing the existing construction methods and the convenience in actual construction activities, a simple modification was made to the main structural layer by adding in appropriate proportions of a phase change material (p) and the modified reservoir silt water powder (w) to enhance the thermal insulation and waterproof of buildings. The performance of the newly modified structure was in line with CNS 3763 absorption ratio specifications. 3. Comparison between the multi-layer insulation performance of the two models Wall I & Layer A-3%p > Wall O & Layer A-3%p Although the two models had the same components, the relative attachment position acted a very important role in insulation effect. The model with phase change material in the interior of the adhesive layer had a better insulation performance than that with phase change material in the external wall. 4. The overall thermal performance of f Series > m Series > l Series Foam concrete (f) with a solid air insulation structure, general mortar (m) with a solid insulating material structure and lightweight aggregate concrete (l) are in the thermal insulation decreasing order. All these three materials take a large portion in current building material combinations. Therefore, the foam concrete (f) is suggested in use for a better thermal performance than that of ordinary building materials. 5. Use the Field Regional Assessment  Recommend the use of general concrete building shell with thermal insulation and waterproof (Wall O-mwp & Layer A-3%p).  Multifunctional foam concrete building shell (Wall I-fwp & Layer A-3%p) is recommended to use since it has light weight, isolates thermal, noise, water and other functions.