Theoretical studies of high-temperature multilayer thermal insulations using radiation scaling

The objective of the paper is to model combined heat transfer in multilayer thermal insulations (MTI) for application to high-temperature fuel cells operating at temperatures higher than 650degreesC. Therefore, solid and gas conduction as well as radiation had to be considered. For conductive heat transfer, referenced models are subjected to sensitivity and plausibility analyses. For modelling the radiation heat transfer, a radiation scaling model reported in literature was adapted to the present problem and compared with experimental data. Finally, internal heat transfer phenomena and a numerical optimisation of MTI are discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.