Importance

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Abstract

An insulation system is described which includes a containment wall with an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface at least in part defining a volume for containment of fluids or solids, an absorbent material which releases absorbed material when heated, the absorbent being in thermal contact with the outer surface of the containment wall, a structural wall contiguous to the outer surface of the containment wall, and an interior surface of the structural wall and the outer surface of the containment wall defining a volume of space where a vacuum can be maintained. The insulation system is used in a process for improving the performance of the insulation system, the process comprising the steps of: a) heating the containment wall to a temperature which will heat the absorbent material to a temperature which will cause the absorbent material to release absorbed material, b) removing the released absorbed material from the vacuum zone, and c) closing the vacuum zone, while under a reduced pressure to exclude ambient passage of gas into the vacuum zone. The process is highly effective even where the reduced pressure of step c) is substantially less than 0.25 Torr.

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First Claim