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Thermal Insulation

Thermal Insulation
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Thermal Insulation

DRDO has designed and developed a thermal protection system based on microporous thermal insulation material (blocks/panels) and alumina-silica and aramid felts (flexible panels), which protects memory module of filght data recorder (FDR) of AN 32 aircraft from high temperature fire and impact shock.

Microporous thermal insulation material is based on amorphous ultra-fine silica, metal oxides (TiO2, Al2O3, and ZrO2) and glass filaments (23 microns) which are compacted under pressure to fern lightweight products in the form of blocks/panels. The blocks /panels offer maximum thermal insulation in a minimum amount space. The microporous material has microporous structure and low density (0.25 to 0.45g 'cn1'] which minimizes transmission of heat over a wide temperature range.

Salient Features

  • Thermal conductivity: 0.02 1 to 0.041 W/m K
  • Thermal stability: Up to 1100 °C
  • High specific heat capacity: 1000J/kg K at 400 OC
  • Resistance to compression: Up to 8 .2kg/cm2

Flexible panels of aramid felt have been used on both side of the memory board. The aramid felt panels are lighter in weight (density 0.09 to 0. 11 gm/cm3 ) with low thermal conductivity. These panels protect the memory board from vibration and impact shock waves. Flexible panels of alumina-silica felt are positioned at the interface of power supply card and memory board sub-assembly, which acts as a thermal barrier to high temperature fire. Alumina-silica material offers low thermal conductivity, lightweight (0.10 0.14g/cm3] and thermal stability up to 1260°C.

The system has successfully gone through high temperature (heat flux :158kW/m2)fire test at I0000C for 15 min; impact shock test(200g for 10 ms); deep sea pressure test at 60 MPa for 5 days; and fluid immersion test (2 h at ATF/hydraulic fluid) at different locations by Regional Centre for military Airworthiness and CRI. Ground test and preliminary flight trials of FDR on board AN 32 were conducted at 1 BRD Air Force Station. Data recording was successfully carried out or ground as well as fit flight.

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