Fiber Glass for Insulating Cryogenic Tanker Systems

Abstract

Large quantities of cryogemc liquids are routinely transported in over-the-road cryogemc tankers. The majority of these tankers are insulated with ex panded perlite at a density of 96 to 160 kg/m3 and reduced pressures below 0.07 mb (0.05 mm Hg). Fiber glass insulation at a density of 32 kg/m3 used in place of ex panded perlite offers similar thermal performance. Fiber glass insulation has a sig nificantly lower density which relates to lower cryogenic tanker weight and thereby the ability to either transport more product or use less fuel. This article reviews the requirements of thermal insulations for over-the-road cryogenic tankers and compares thermal conductivities of various insulations used for this application. Data on a new "AA" fiber glass insulation designed for this cryogemc market is presented. The results indicate that this new fiber glass blanket can offer the highest thermal resistivities on a per weight basis of any of the insula tion systems evaluated.