Multilayer Insulation (MLI) is frequently used in vacuum conditions for the thermal insulation of cryogenic storage tanks. The severe consequences of the degradation of such materials in engulfing fire scenarios were recently evidenced by several large-scale experimental tests. In the present study, an innovative modelling approach was developed to assess the performance of heat transfer in polyester-based MLI materials for cryogenic applications under fire conditions. A specific layer-by-layer approach was integrated with an apparent kinetic thermal degradation model based on thermogravimetric analysis results. The modeling results provided a realistic simulation of the experimental data obtained by High-Temperature Thermal Vacuum Chamber tests reproducing fire exposure conditions. The model was then applied to assess the behavior of MLI systems for liquid hydrogen tanks in realistic fire scenarios. The results show that in intense fire scenarios degradation occurs rapidly, compromising the thermal insulation performances of the system within a few minutes.

中文翻译：

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对经历外部火灾场景的低温储罐中多层隔热性能进行建模


多层绝热（MLI）经常在真空条件下用于低温储罐的绝热。最近的几项大规模实验测试证明了此类材料在吞没火灾的情况下降解的严重后果。在本研究中，开发了一种创新的建模方法来评估火灾条件下低温应用的聚酯基 MLI 材料的传热性能。基于热重分析结果，将特定的逐层方法与表观动力学热降解模型相结合。建模结果提供了对高温热真空室测试所获得的实验数据的真实模拟，再现了火灾暴露条件。然后将该模型应用于评估液氢罐 MLI 系统在真实火灾场景中的行为。结果表明，在强烈火灾情况下，降解会迅速发生，在几分钟内就会损害系统的隔热性能。