Thermally insulating jacket and related process

Abstract

Improved process for evacuating the thermally insulating jacket of a dewar having an inner wall and an outer wall, with the inner space between said walls completely or partially filled with an insulating material, containing also a moisture sorbing material and a getter material, in which said moisture sorbing material is a chemical drying agent.

1. A process for producing an improved thermally insulating jacket, having an inner wall and an outer wall, and having an inner space between said walls containing an insulating material, wherein said inner space also contains a moisture sorbing material and a getter material, wherein said moisture sorbing material is a moisture sorbing material, having a H 2 O vapor pressure lower than 1 Pa at room temperature, characterized by the following steps:
 A. evacuating the inner space of the jacket down to a pressure lower than 100 Pa by means of a vacuum pump having a connection between the pump and the inner space of the jacket; 
 B. exposing said inner space contemporaneously to said moisture sorbing material while keeping the getter in an inactivated form; 
 C. evacuating said inner space farther, down to a pressure lower than 5 Pa, by means of the vacuum pump; 
 D. activating said getter; and 
 E. isolating the jacket from the vacuum pump, by sealing the connection between said vacuum pump and the inner space of the jacket. 
 
     
     
       2. A process according to  claim 1  characterized in that during the exposing of step B, the evacuating according to Step A is discontinued. 
     
     
       3. A process according to  claim 2  wherein step B lasts from about 2 to about 48 hours. 
     
     
       4. A process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that during the Steps A and B, the inner wall is kept hot at a temperature of not higher than 150° C. thus promoting the release of water from the insulation material. 
     
     
       5. A process according to  claim 4  wherein step B lasts from about 2 to about 48 hours. 
     
     
       6. A process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the step B lasts for up to 48 hours. 
     
     
       7. A process according to  claim 1  characterized in that said moisture absorbing material and said getter are lying, in separate locations, against the outer wall of said jacket. 
     
     
       8. A process according to  claim 7  characterized in that said moisture sorbing material and said getter are arranged in a container subdivided into an inner zone and an outer zone by a porous septum, wherein:
 the inner zone contains said getter; 
 the outer zone is communicating with the inner zone containing said insulating material and contains said moisture sorbing material which prevents the passage of water vapour through said septum and towards said getter. 
 
     
     
       9. A process according to  claim 8  characterized in that said container is a vertical box having an opening at its uppermost portion and a planar septum. 
     
     
       10. A process according to  claim 8  characterized in that said container is a toroidal box having a radial or planar septum. 
     
     
       11. A process according to  claim 9 , characterized in that said septum is horizontal. 
     
     
       12. A process according to  claim 8 , characterized in that said container is a rigid, semirigid or flexible box. 
     
     
       13. A process according to  claim 8 , characterized in that said container is made from a substantially water-free material, selected from the group consisting of metal, glass, ceramics and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       14. A process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said getter material is an alloy having the formula BaLi 4 . 
     
     
       15. A process according to  claim 1  wherein step B lasts from about 2 to about 48 hours. 
     
     
       16. A process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said septum is horizontal. 
     
     
       17. A jacket of  claim 1  wherein said moisture sorbing material is selected from the group consisting of barium oxide, strontium oxide, phosphorous oxide, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       18. An improved thermally insulating jacket, having an inner wall and an outer wall, and having an inner space between said walls completely or partially filled with an insulating material, wherein said inner space also contains:
 A. a moisture sorbing material selected from the group consisting of barium oxide, strontium oxide, phosphorous oxide, and mixtures thereof; and 
 B. a getter material which is an alloy of the formula BaLi 4 . 
 
     
     
       19. An improved thermally insulating jacket, having an inner wall and an outer wall, and having an inner space between said walls completely or partially filled with an insulating material, wherein said inner space also contains:
 A. a moisture sorbing material selected from the group consisting of barium oxide, strontium oxide, phosphorous oxide, and mixtures thereof; and 
 B. a getter material which is an alloy of the formula BaLi 4 ; and 
 C. a hydrogen converter selected from the group consisting of osmium oxide, iridium oxide, ruthenium oxide, rhodium oxide and palladium oxide. 
 
     
     
       20. An improved thermally insulating jacket, having an inner wall and an outer wall, and having an inner space between said walls completely or partially filled with an insulating material, wherein said inner space also contains:
 A. a moisture sorbing material which is barium oxide; and 
 B. a getter material which is an alloy of the formula BaLi 4 ; and 
 C. a hydrogen converter which is palladium oxide. 
 
     
     
       21. A method for producing a thermally insulating jacket, comprising:
 evacuating an inner space defined by inner and outer walls to form a vacuum;   filling an inner space of the jacket with insulating material, the inner space being defined by an inner wall and an outer wall;   providing for absorbing both water vapor and at least a second type of gas or vapor from the inner space with a getter;   providing for sorbing water vapor with a water sorbing material;   positioning the getter and water sorbing material in the inner space in a container that is impervious to water vapor;   subdividing the container into an inner zone and an outer zone, the getter being positioned in the inner zone of the container and the water absorber filling the outer zone of the container:   placing the outer zone of the container in communication with both the inner space and the inner zone of the container, and placing the inner zone of the container in communication with only the outer zone of the container so that the water absorber in the outer zone prevents the water vapor from reaching the getter;   evacuating the inner space to a predetermined level of pressure; and   sealing the inner space with the container therein so that the water sorber continues sorbing the water vapor and the getter continues absorbing the second gas or vapor.