Heat Transfer Modeling for Rigid High-Temperature Fibrous Insulation

Abstract

Combined radiation and conduction heat transfer through a high-temperature, high-porosity, rigid multiple-fiber fibrous insulation was modeled using a thermal model previously used to model heat transfer in flexible single-fiber fibrous insulation. The rigid insulation studied was alumina enhanced thermal barrier at densities between . The model consists of using the diffusion approximation for radiation heat transfer, a semi-empirical solid conduction model, and a standard gas conduction model. The relevant parameters needed for the heat transfer model were estimated from steady-state thermal measurements in nitrogen gas at various temperatures and environmental pressures. The heat transfer modeling methodology was evaluated by comparison with standard thermal conductivity measurements, and steady-state thermal measurements in argon and carbon dioxide gases. The heat transfer model is applicable over the temperature range of 300–1360 K, pressure range of 0.133 to , and over the insulation density range of in various gaseous environments.