SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1991
STP16338S

Prediction of the Thermal Performance of Single and Multi-Airspace Reflective Insulation Materials

Source

A recent test program to determine the thermal performance of reflective thermal insulation materials and systems was carried out on behalf of the Department of Energy. This program indicated that the thermal performance of multi-airspace reflective cavities (multi-layer reflective insulations) could not be accurately predicted by a one-dimensional analysis applied in combination with the thermal performance data for single airspaces.

A new correlation has been developed in an effort to improve the accuracy of predicted R-values for multi-airspace reflective systems. This correlation is described and compared to the thermal test data generated by the recent test program.

Generally good agreement between calculated and measured R-Values is achieved for single airspaces. However, calculated values for multiple airspaces are up to 60 percent greater than the measured values. This disagreement indicates that the commercial multifoil product that was tested may not achieve the idealized one-dimensional heat flow that is true of the correlation.

Author Information

Desjarlais, AO
Yarbrough, DW
Price: $25.00
Contact Sales
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Developed by Committee: C16
Pages: 24–43
DOI: 10.1520/STP16338S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5174-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-1420-3