Building a Reefer Box with Aerogel

[SkiprJohn]

Nice job! Will keep my OJ and Hawaiian Sun guava juice cold?

J

[Celestialsailor]

Hey Salty...Yes, 3 layers of aerogel, 2 layers of 1" blue foam. Then pour foam filling in gaps of 3/4" to 3"s. The thinest area on the box was 3" and the most insulated area was 4 1/2"s. As stated earlier 4 minutes on 11 off. Today it was 4 minutes on 16 minutes off. That means 1a/hr. consumption

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

Nice job! Will keep my OJ and Hawaiian Sun guava juice cold?

J

Yes...It will make the sea biscuit with weavels and the horse stew go down easier...

[SkiprJohn]

Nothing like cold horse stew for breakfast.

J

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

Nothing like cold horse stew for breakfast.

J

Ya...but the crew will have to kill the horse first...

[jborge]

Celestial Sailor, thanks, I am planning to build a cooler for my 22' Venture and have been researching Aerogel and it appears that the optimal Aerogel product for insulation is something called Spaceloft. However, it is extremely expensive - $195 for a 24" X 48" piece of the double thickness (10mm). The only place I have found on line that seems willing to sell to the "hobbyist" is www.BuyAerogel.com. Do you have an alternate source? Thanks, jborge

[senormechanico]

jborge,
Here you go:

Aspen Aerogel SPACELOFT Insulation Hydrophobic Mat, Per Linear Foot, 57" Wide | eBay

[jborge]

Thanks so much. I had the brilliant idea of actually reading through the rest of the thread and spotted the eBay seller, but thanks again for your prompt assistance. - jborge

[Celestialsailor]

Thought I would update...I'm in San Diego now. Just serviced the system...meaning I vacuumed the evaporator fins...40% clogged and bleached out the box. After cycling for a few hours...it is back to 4 minutes on and 11 minutes off. By the way...that equates out to about 1.25 amps per hour. The ambient temperature is 85F. I'll give a report from Mexico in awhile.

[senormechanico]

Condenser fins?

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

Condenser fins?

This is what I meant.

[bluesphere]

My biggest concern with aerogel is moisture retention. Did you put in any moisture barrier?

Alex

[senormechanico]

Aerogel is hydrophobic.
It repels water.

[Richard Kollmann]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

Aerogel is hydrophobic.
It repels water.

It is true that open cell Aerogel repels water only if condensation is not collected in the open cell spaces. Add the high dew point in warm climates to the marine boat environment with out a moisture barrier and R value of any open cell insulation will be greatly reduced. Like open cell spun glass insulation moisture in home heating Aerogel repels water as long as it does not collect water.

[bluesphere]

Richard,
Thanks for the reply. I need all the help I can get. Im in Panama refitting for my 2nd Pacifoc crossing and it's difficult to get supplies here. My wife is going to the states in March and going to pick up the insulation.

Im thinking to put a moisture barrier between the box and insulation as well as in between each layer.

Any other ideas?

Sail far and live slow.

Alex