In this study a thermal design method based upon steady state conduction and radiation coupled heat
transfer process is presented for multilayer thermal insulations. With the presented method the optimal number of re鄄
flecting foils and the thickness of each insulation layer could be obtained when the foil distribution characteristics in
the multilayer thermal insulation was defined. Case studies for multilayer insulations thermal design under specified
conditions were conducted. Results showed that the multilayer insulation designed with unvaried thickness in each in鄄
sulation layer had less mass than the multilayer insulation designed with unvaried temperature drop in each insulation
layer. Results obtained in this study may be useful in the thermal design of high temperature multilayer insulations.