Abstract: A vapor cooled insulation structure includes at least one vapor sealed layer, created with discrete spacers between two layers. A vapor transport layer is created within these layers through which a cold fluid may flow to intercept and remove heat from an underlying structure. In one example, the vapor cooled system carries cold vapor which is in direct contact with an underlying cryogenic tank structural support.

Abstract: An insulation panel includes a face sheet hermetically coupled to a plurality of structural walls to define a plurality of cell bodies, with each cell body positioned contiguously with an adjacent cell body. An insulation structure is disposed within each cell body and further includes a first radiant barrier layer, a second radiant barrier layer, and a spacer disposed between the first radiant barrier layer and the second radiant barrier layer. Sealed cells formed by completing the cell bodies may contain a gas that condenses or freezes in response to cryogenic cooling of a structure to which the insulation panel is coupled. Load-responsive spacers may also be disposed between the insulation structure and the face sheet to support the face sheet while in atmospheric conditions and to disengage from the face sheet in low pressure environments, such as space.

Abstract: The invention provides improvements on thermal performance of multilayer insulation for hot and cold feedlines. Insulation on feedlines has always been problematic, and can perform ten times worse than tank insulation contributing as much as 80% of total system heat leak. The poor performance of traditional MLI wrapped on feed lines is due to compression of the layers, causing increased interlayer contact and heat conduction. The MLI performance is not only much worse than expected, but also difficult to predict. Spacer structures are presented which provide a well-defined, accurately characterized support between the thermal radiant barriers in a multilayer insulation. The invention provides a robust, structural insulation that is much less sensitive to wrap compression and installation workmanship allowing for more predictable, higher performance insulation structure.

Abstract: A multilayer insulation is provided that includes radiant barrier layers separated by one or more spacers. The spacers are configured to maintain separation and provide a low conductivity thermal path between adjacent radiant barrier layers of the multilayer insulation. In certain implementations, the spacers have a shape defined by the intersection of three orthogonally oriented discs and are disposed between two radiant barrier layers of the multilayer insulation. In other implementations, the spacers are mechanically coupled to and extend from a radiant barrier layer.

Abstract: An insulation panel includes a face sheet hermetically coupled to a plurality of structural walls to define a plurality of cell bodies, with each cell body positioned contiguously with an adjacent cell body. An insulation structure is disposed within each cell body and further includes a first radiant barrier layer, a second radiant barrier layer, and a spacer disposed between the first radiant barrier layer and the second radiant barrier layer. Sealed cells formed by completing the cell bodies may contain a gas that condenses or freezes in response to cryogenic cooling of a structure to which the insulation panel is coupled. Load-responsive spacers may also be disposed between the insulation structure and the face sheet to support the face sheet while in atmospheric conditions and to disengage from the face sheet in low pressure environments, such as space.