Thermal Insulation Performance of Reflective Insulation Materials for High-temperature Region Operating Trains

ObjectiveWhen trains running in high-temperature regions, the carriage interior temperature rises significantly due to the combined effects of ambient temperature and solar radiation, that not only shortens the service lifespan of train materials but also increases air-conditioning energy consumption, severely affecting passenger comfort. Therefore, it is necessary to study the thermal insulation performance of reflective insulation materials for trains operating in high-temperature regions. MethodBased on the physical heat exchange processes between a train and its surrounding environment, a heat transfer model of the train is established, taking into account the effects of solar radiation heat transfer, air convection heat transfer, and environmental radiant heat transfer. The variations in the train internal and surface temperatures before and after applying train reflective isolation coating materials are analyzed. Furthermore, the influence law of reflective thermal isolation material parameters and environmental parameters on train temperature are investigated. Result & Conclusion Reflective insulation materials can effectively reduce train temperature, slow down the rate of train temperature increase, and mitigate the influence of environmental factors on train temperature. The emissivity of thermal reflective insulation materials has the most significant impact on train temperature variation—the lower the material emissivity, the lower the train temperature. As the thickness of the thermal reflective insulation layer increases, its cooling effect on the train first enhances and then weakens. When the thickness of the thermal reflective insulation coating is relatively small, the thermal conductivity of the material has little effect on the train temperature.