Refrigerator and Aspen Aerogel

[rgleason]

I am interested in how aerogel has been used to improve refrigeration boxes and lids. I would rather augment my existing 30 yr old insulation than take everything apart. I can also add foam between the hull and the box by drilling some holes in the bulkhead.

What thicnesses are needed and how should this material be enclosed? Is it susceptable to damage from compression by refridgerator goods?

Thanks

[Typhoon]

Here you go. Doing your whole box with Aerogel would be expensive .

Regards John

https:/

[annk]

Just done ours... Took out old mechanical driven fridge then made new box with aerogel and dropped in ready completed waeco fridge/freezer unit CFX65. Worked out amazingly well-just 1mm clearance! had to allow for some cooling ducting but not too complex. Running the unit as a freezer right now and it comes on approx 5 mins every 30 mins which is bloomin amazin...
Aerogel was expensive but worth it in our humble opinion.

[senormechanico]

The "Search" function is your friend:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...rchid=15369151

[I36guy]

The link doesn't work. I did mine with about 10 layers of 10mm Cryogel (approx. R30). That was a nasty job. I highly recommend wearing a tyvek suit and a respirator. And, despite taping, masking, etc., the micro-silica got friggin' EVERYWHERE. Nearly two years later, I'm still finding that dust in far corners of the boat.

A friend finished the box and made the lid that doesn't require a gasket. I've been happy with the result however. The Islander 36 has a huge ice box. So, 3" of insulation plus glass still left a respectable sized reefer/freezer.

I haven't done really close monitoring of power consumption but it seems to take about 35-50 Ah/Day. IIRC, I used the Isotherm 2501 kit with the sink drain/thru-hull heat exchanger.