Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Leon R Glicksman

Ralph I Larson

Richard J Phillips

Melissa S Burke

Timothy R Brehm

Arlene J Lanciani

Warren R Rohsenow

Method and apparatus are provided for accurately and more rapidly measuring the permeability of various test gases in cellular polymeric materials with very low permeation rates, comprising a constant volume test chamber sealed with indium gaskets, said chamber being connected to a gas inlet valve and test gas reservoir with pressure gauge, gas outlet valve and oil check valve, an absolute pressure transducer to track the change in pressure in the test chamber, and said chamber being submerged in a water bath for strict temperature control. A thinly cut foam sample is placed in the test chamber surrounded by the test gas, where the gas inside the sample is first allowed to reach equilibrium with the surrounding gas; the pressure of the surrounding gas is then raised or lowered, and the rate at which the sample takes up or gives off the test gas is recorded over time as a change in pressure of the test gas around the foam. From this pressure variation the desired permeability coefficient may be measured, and achieved more quickly due to the reduced thickness of the sample. Unlike standard prior art transmission-method devices, this new sorption method and apparatus also allows for separate determination of the diffusion and solubility coefficients; it further allows for the use of much thinner foam samples than can be reliably used in prior art methods, resulting in a substantial reduction in testing time. The effective diffusion coefficient is used as an input to a computational model which predicts the rate of aging in a foam insulation panel. The effective solubility coefficient is used primarily to understand the behavior of the blowing agent in the foam system.

Method and apparatus for transient measurement of gas permeability in

Thermal insulation vacuum panels are formed of an inner core of compressed low thermal conductivity powders enclosed by a ceramic/glass envelope evaluated to a low pressure.

Thermal insulations using vacuum panels

A filler of non-metallic, light transparent material is formed into particles or flakes and coated with opaque material and dispersed in closed cell foam to reduce overall thermal conductivity and, specifically, to reduce radiation heat transfer.

Method and apparatus for improving the insulating properties of closed

A microchannel heat sink used to cool a high power electronic device such as an integrated circuit comprising a plurality of channels in close thermal contact to the integrated circuit and through which a liquid is passed to create either a developing laminar flow or a turbulent flow. The turbulent flow may be either developing or fully developed. The heat sink features a compensation heater surrounding the integrated circuit and heated at the same rate as the integrated circuit to thereby provide a more uniform temperature at the perimeter of the integrated circuit.

Forced-convection, liquid-cooled, microchannel heat sinks

A wicking apparatus for drying insulation wet with water, particularly insulation in flat roofing systems and wall systems, is disclosed consisting of a hollow device, capable of penetrating the exterior weather shield or siding to the insulation to create a passageway from the insulation to an external environment where moisture can evaporate, and a wick disposed within the passageway to transport moisture by capillary action from the insulation to the external environment. In retrofit applications, the method resides in penetrating the weather shield or insulation in at least one location and deploying the wicking apparatus to induce drying; in new applications a network of moisture-transporting channels can also be employed within the insulation itself together with one or more wicking apparatuses to further aid in drying.

Apparatus and method for drying insulation

A wet/dry cooling tower wherein a liquid to-be-cooled is flowed along channels of a corrugated open surface or the like, which surface is swept by cooling air. The amount of the surface covered by the liquid is kept small compared to the dry part thereof so that said dry part acts as a fin for the wet part for heat dissipation.

Growing community of inventors

Lynnfield, MA, United States of America

Leon R Glicksman