ProjectsThe objective of this activity was to investigate, design, manufacture and test at sample level an advanced high temperature internal insulation system concept to insulate the cold vehicle substructure against the hot structures including an appropriate sealing at the gap interfaces of the hot structure segments.
During research for such advanced insulations attention was paid to improvements of the existing qualified European insulation systems IFI (cost favourable) and IMI (best thermal efficiency) but also to multi-component insulation systems and to the utilisation of emerging and/or of cost-favourable materials. Materials short-listed for application in advanced internal insulations have been exposed to an extensive specimen test program.
Based on these material investigations various insulation design concepts have been defined and analysed for applications up to 1300° K and up to 1900° K. For promising insulation candidates the engineering aspects are investigated in more detail versus the mechanical, manufacturing, handling and mounting requirements. In parallel the influence of sealing design concepts and materials was also studied as well as the additional materials needed to fabricate water-proof blankets. In a trade-off the best design for medium temperature class and for high temperature class insulations was chosen.
The selected insulation designs for medium temperature applications (1300° K) and high temperature applications (1900° K) were realised as blankets with lateral dimensions 150 mm x 150 mm suited to fit into the available re-entry testing facility at DLR Stuttgart. A huge thermal verification test program has been performed.
HPS's new insulation packages have been proved to be lighter (around 20%) and more cost efficient (up to 60% cheaper) compared previous solutions and reached a high technology readiness level. Only a qualification program is missing for flight readiness level.
Main subcontractors to HPS have been MT Aerospace and DLR.
Publications:
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Statement of Work:
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