Theory and Technique for Reducing the Effect of Cracks in Multilayer Insulation from Room Temperature to 77 K

The multilayer insulation (MLI) system for the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) consists of full cryostat length assemblies of aluminized polyester film fabricated in the form of blankets and installed as blankets to the 4.SK cold mass and the 20K and SOK thermal radiation shields. Approximately 40,000 MLI blankets will be required in the 10,000 cryogenic devices comprising the SSC accelerator. Each blanket is nearly 17 meters long and 1.8 meters wide. This paper reports the blanket design, an apparatus, and the fabrication method used to mass produce pre-fabricated MLI blankets. Incorporated in the blanket design are techniques which automate quality control during installation of the MLI blankets in the SSC cryostat. The apparatus and blanket fabrication method insure consistency in the mass produced blankets by providing positive control of the dimensional parameters which contribute to the thermal performance of the MLI blanket. By virtue of the fabrication process, the MLI blankets have inherent features of dimensional stability, three-dimensional uniformity, controlled layer density, layer-to-layer registra.tion, interlayer cleanliness, and interlayer material to acco=odate thermal contraction differences.

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Theory and Technique for Reducing the Effect of Cracks in Multilayer Insulation from Room Temperature to 77 K

Cited by 4 publications

References 3 publications

Insulation Progress since the Mid-1950s

Insulation Progress since the Mid-1950s

Thermal Performance Measurements of a 100 Percent Polyester MLI System for the Superconducting Super Collider; Part II: Laboratory Results (300K - 8OK)

A Blanket Design, Apparatus, and Fabrication Techniques for the Mass Production of Multilayer Insulation Blankets for the Superconducting Super Collider

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