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Super Insulating Perlite Evacuated Cryogenic Service

Expanded perlite is used for insulating cryogenic vessels requiring extremely low thermal conductivity. For applications below -150°F, evacuated perlite insulation provides conductivity up to 40 times lower than 0.200 Btu-in/h-ft3 °F. Typical uses include double-walled spheres for storing helium, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and LNG. Evacuated perlite exhibits very low conductivity from 0°F to -160°F and is many times more effective than unevacuated perlite. It is relatively inexpensive, easy to install and handle, and does not degrade over time.

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84 views2 pages

Super Insulating Perlite Evacuated Cryogenic Service

Expanded perlite is used for insulating cryogenic vessels requiring extremely low thermal conductivity. For applications below -150°F, evacuated perlite insulation provides conductivity up to 40 times lower than 0.200 Btu-in/h-ft3 °F. Typical uses include double-walled spheres for storing helium, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and LNG. Evacuated perlite exhibits very low conductivity from 0°F to -160°F and is many times more effective than unevacuated perlite. It is relatively inexpensive, easy to install and handle, and does not degrade over time.

Uploaded by

clarence8baclig
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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“SUPER” INSULATING PERLITE FOR EVACUATED CRYOGENIC

SERVICE
Expanded perlite is used for a wide variety of insulating applications ranging from cryogenic vessels
requiring ‘super’ insulation to low temperature and high temperature applications, lightweight perlite
insulating concrete, insulating board, insulating plasters, masonry wall insulation and underfloor
insulation.

Perlite “Super” Insulation


For cryogenic applications of -150°F (-101°C) and
below requiring “super” insulation, evacuated perlite
provides a superior insulation with thermal conductivity
up to 40 times less than 0.200 Btu-in/h-ft3 °F (0.029
W/m-K) depending on vacuum and temperature. Usual
applications for evacuated perlite insulation are in
double walled helium and hydrogen storage spheres. It
may also be used for storage of oxygen, nitrogen and
LNG when especially low thermal conductivities are
desired. In addition to large field erected storage tanks,
evacuated perlite is used to insulate smaller shop
fabricated vessels designed for the storage of many of
the cryogenic gases.

Properties of Perlite Insulation


Perlite insulation suitable for evacuated cryogenic
service exhibits low thermal conductivity throughout a
range of temperatures, pressures and densities. The
normal recommended density range is 8 to 9 ½
lb/ft3 (128 to 152 kg/m3). The accompanying graph
provides data on thermal conductivity for expanded
perlite with a density of 8.7 lb/ft3 (139 kg/m3) at mean
temperatures from 0°F (-18°C) to
-160°F (-107°C). Cryogenic temperatures are generally considered to be below -150°F (-101°C).
Thermal conductivity of evacuated perlite is many times lower than that of nonevacuated perlite
insulation. For example, at a mean temperature
of -115°F (-82°C), normal unevacuated cryogenic
perlite at 4 lb/ft3 (64 kg/m3) would have a thermal
conductivity about 22 times as great as
evacuated perlite at 8.7 lb/ft3 (139 kg/m3) and
interstitial pressure of 10 microns.

In addition to excellent thermal properties, perlite


insulation is relatively low in cost, easy to handle
and install, noncombustible and meets fire
regulations, reduces insurance rates and does
not shrink, swell, warp or slump.

Perlite for evacuated service must be dry. The


normal moisture limit is 0.1 percent by weight.
Moisture in the perlite greatly increases the pump
down time necessary to achieve the low vacuum
required. As a result, perlite must be fresh and
packaged in moisture-proof bags or sealed tank
trucks. Perlite bagged in paper sacks should not
be used.
Typical Evacuated Perlite Installation
Field installation of perlite super insulation for large evacuated cryogenic vessels requires that a
vacuum be maintained in the annular space of the vessel being insulated. Expanded perlite is
pressurized with nitrogen in a tank truck and drawn into the annular space by a combination of vacuum
and pressure. For small vessels, where vacuum transfer is not practical, direct conveying of dry perlite
by means other than vacuum, under strictly controlled conditions, produces satisfactory results.

Portable perlite expansion plants complete with dust control equipment and an intermediate two-
compartment tank truck are used to expand the perlite on-site and to fill the annular space with
evacuated cryogenic grade perlite insulation in a dust-free, moisture-free manner.

Perlite Institute, Inc.


4305 North Sixth Street, Suite A, Harrisburg, PA 17110
717.238.9723 / fax 717.238.9985 / www.perlite.org

Technical data given herein are from sources considered reliable, but no guarantee of accuracy can be made or liability
assumed. Your supplier may be able to provide you with more precise data. Certain compositions or processes involving
perlite may be the subject of patents.

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