Thermal insulation and thermal insulation window

Abstract

The present invention provides a heat-insulating window having a pair of panels, a space sandwiched between the pair of panels, a heat-insulating material capable of filling the space, and a mechanism capable of filling and removing the heat-insulating material with respect to the space. The heat-insulating material is characterized by containing fine particles, which are made of an aerogel having a three-dimensional network structure with a skeleton formed by a cluster of primary particles, and having a three-dimensional network structure with a skeleton formed by the primary particles. Such a heat-insulating material has extremely high fluidity and can be moved by a liquid, thereby being capable of filling and removing with respect to the space sandwiched by the pair of panels. In addition, the present invention provides a heat-insulating member having a cavity capable of changing a shape and a heat-insulating material housed in the cavity, the heat-insulating material being a powdery body, having fluidity, having a volume retention performance capable of retaining a volume before and after the change of the shape of the cavity, and moving within the cavity in conjunction with the change of the shape of the cavity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to heat insulation components and heat insulation windows, and is particularly suitable for heat insulation components that can change the heat insulation position, and even more suitable for heat insulation windows that can switch between a transparent state and a light-blocking / heat-blocking state. Background Technology

[0002] With increasing attention being paid to energy-efficient housing as a countermeasure against global warming, window insulation is extremely important. In summer, it is necessary to prevent heat intrusion from the outside, and in winter, to prevent heat loss to the outside, even requiring consideration of the balance with natural lighting.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a window unit in which the amount of light transmission and heat insulation can be adjusted by filling / removing foamed resin particles in a hollow portion formed by sandwiching a transparent panel in a double-glazed window. The foamed resin particles are transported from a storage tank using airflow to fill the hollow portion, thereby improving heat insulation. The foamed resin particles are then removed from the hollow portion and recycled back to the storage tank using airflow, thereby improving light transmission. This document points out that during airflow transport, the foamed resin particles become charged through mutual friction, thus creating a problem of them adhering to the transparent panel constituting the double-glazed window. This problem is solved by applying an anti-static coating to the inner wall of the double-glazed window.

[0004] Patent document 2 discloses a window capable of adjusting the area through which light can pass. A gap is provided between a pair of glass panels, and a lift is arranged in the gap. Lightweight particles filled on the upper side of the lift are lowered to the lower end, thereby creating a light-blocking state. The lightweight particles are then raised, thereby increasing the transparent area and improving light transmission.

[0005] Patent document 3 discloses a double-glazed window configured to allow hydrophobic aerogel particles to enter and exit the internal space. The hydrophobic aerogel particles are lowered from a storage compartment and filled, then returned to the storage compartment via a blowing mechanism. The following embodiment is also described: Hydrophobic aerogel particles with a silica framework are used as the insulation material; a transparent conductive film is formed on the inner surface of the double-glazed window, causing the inner wall of the double-glazed window to become charged and adhere to the hydrophobic aerogel.

[0006] Patent document 4 discloses a light-shielding component that fills a space sandwiched between two transparent panels with aerogel particles. Although the mechanism for switching between the transparent state and the light-shielding / heat-shielding state is not mentioned, the results obtained by analyzing in detail the relationship between visible light transmittance and the particle size of the filled aerogel particles are disclosed.

[0007] Furthermore, although heat insulation and heat shielding are technical terms that should be clearly distinguished in professional terms, they are used as synonyms in this manual.

[0008] Existing technical documents

[0009] Patent documents

[0010] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-86780

[0011] Patent document 2 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-202681

[0012] Patent document 3 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-30085

[0013] Patent document 4 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-178372 Summary of the Invention

[0014] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0015] As shown in Patent Documents 1-4, various types of windows that provide heat shading by filling the gap between double-pane windows with insulating materials such as aerogel particles are proposed. In the inventions disclosed in Patent Documents 1-3, a mechanism is provided to switch between the state of being filled with insulating materials such as aerogel particles and the state of being removed, thereby controlling the balance between heat insulation and light transmission; however, this control mechanism is relatively complex. In the double-pane windows disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 3, air supply fans, valves, and even heaters to prevent condensation, transparent conductive films to electrify the inner side of the window, and control circuits are required to move the particulate insulating material using airflow. In the double-pane window disclosed in Patent Document 2, a lift is provided to mechanically move the particulate insulating material. This is because the insulating material, primarily composed of aerogel, needs to be of a constant size, and a certain degree of physical force is required to move it.

[0016] The inventors have noted that in conventional insulation components (including insulation building materials such as walls, floors, and roofs) constituting cold-insulating and heat-insulating containers, mechanisms capable of switching between insulation and non-insulation, or even adjusting insulation performance, have not yet been studied or put into practical use. This is considered to be because, in order to adjust insulation in insulation components, windows would need to have mechanisms as complex as those studied in the prior art.

[0017] The purpose of this invention is to provide a heat insulation component and a heat insulation window, which have a simple mechanism for adjusting the heat insulation state (the position of the heat insulation and the heat insulation performance).

[0018] The means used to solve the above problems will be described below, but other problems and new features will of course become clearer from the description and figures in this specification.

[0019] Methods for solving problems

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is described below.

[0021] That is, the heat-insulating window of the present invention comprises: a pair of panels, a space sandwiched between the pair of panels, a heat-insulating material capable of filling the space, and a mechanism capable of filling the space with the heat-insulating material and removing the heat-insulating material from the space, and the heat-insulating window has the following features.

[0022] The aforementioned thermal insulation material contains microparticles made from aerogel with a three-dimensional mesh structure formed by clusters of primary particles forming a framework.

[0023] The aforementioned mechanism is designed to change the shape of the space by moving the insulation material.

[0024] The microparticles of the thermal insulation material constituted by the present invention can additionally have the following characteristics: more than 50% of their volume has a particle size distribution of more than 0.1 μm and less than 1.0 μm, and have a most frequent value.

[0025] Furthermore, the heat-insulating component of the present invention includes a cavity capable of changing shape and a heat-insulating material contained within the cavity. The heat-insulating material is in powder form and moves within the cavity as the shape of the cavity changes. Here, a cavity refers to a hollow located within the heat-insulating component that can accommodate the heat-insulating material. For example, it is a hollow formed by a pair of panels, or a bag capable of containing heat-insulating material inside. In this specification, the pair of panels containing heat-insulating material and the bag are referred to as heat-insulating components, and the hollow in the heat-insulating component capable of accommodating the heat-insulating material is referred to as a cavity. On the other hand, the hollow used for cold / heat insulation made using the heat-insulating component is referred to as a container.

[0026] The effects of the invention

[0027] The effects obtained by one of the above embodiments will be explained simply as follows.

[0028] That is, it is possible to provide a heat insulation component and a heat insulation window, which has a simple mechanism for adjusting the heat insulation state (the position of the heat insulation, the heat insulation performance). Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the configuration of an insulated window according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 2 This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the configuration of a heat-insulating window according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 3 This is an illustrative diagram that compares the structure of ordinary aerogel particles with that of microparticles whose framework is formed by primary particles.

[0032] Figure 4 This is an illustrative diagram showing an example of the frequency distribution of particle size for ordinary aerogel particles, powder obtained by crushing aerogel particles, micro powder, and microparticles whose skeleton is formed by primary particles.

[0033] Figure 5 This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the method for measuring the dynamic angle of repose.

[0034] Figure 6 This is an explanatory diagram showing the measurement results of the dynamic angle of repose.

[0035] Figure 7 This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the method for measuring the rate of volume change.

[0036] Figure 8 It is the result of the measurement of the rate of change of volume.

[0037] Figure 9 It is the result of measuring the change in volume rate over time.

[0038] Figure 10 This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example configuration of an insulated container using the heat-insulating component of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 11 This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating other configuration examples of an insulated container using the heat-insulating component of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 12 This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing yet another configuration example of an insulated container using the heat-insulating component of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 13 This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the configuration of a heat-insulating window according to another embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0042] 1. The solution principle of this invention

[0043] The principle by which the present invention can solve the above-mentioned problems will be explained.

[0044] The inventors have invented a thermal insulation material and filed a patent application under Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-193892. This thermal insulation material is characterized by containing microparticles, which are derived from an aerogel having a three-dimensional mesh structure with a framework formed by clusters of primary particles. This thermal insulation material is named TIISA (in trademark application filed by Thermalytica Co., Ltd.). TIISA has a thermal conductivity comparable to high-performance aerogels and a bulk density of 0.01 g / cm³ or less, which is less than one-tenth of that of conventional aerogels. Therefore, it is a lightweight and high-performance thermal insulation material. In contrast to conventional aerogels, whose framework is formed by secondary particles, TIISA is characterized by its framework being formed around the primary particles constituting the aforementioned secondary particles. Therefore, the particles are extremely small, with more than 50% of their volume dispersed in particles with a diameter of 0.1 μm to 1.0 μm and a most frequent value.

[0045] Figure 3 This is an explanatory diagram comparing the structure of ordinary aerogel particles with that of microparticles whose framework is formed by primary particles. The three-dimensional mesh structure of ordinary aerogel particles 13 is configured with secondary particles 12 as units, which are clusters of primary particles 11. Figure 3 In contrast, the microparticles (e.g., TIISA microparticles) 14 of the present invention form a three-dimensional mesh structure with the aforementioned primary particles 11 as the framework. Figure 3 (b)

[0046] Normally circulating aerogels are particles with a three-dimensional mesh structure whose framework is composed of 1 / 2 secondary particles. Therefore, even if they are pulverized finely using a pulverizing device, the framework structure remains unchanged. The experimental results are shown below. Figure 4 This is an example illustration of the particle size frequency distribution (TMI) of aerogel particles, aerogel powder, aerogel micropowder, and microparticles forming a framework of primary particles, arranged sequentially from bottom to top. Aerogel particles are the normally circulating aerogel particles themselves. Aerogel powder is produced by pulverizing aerogel particles at 5000–7000 rpm for two minutes using a Mitsui Electric Machinery SX08 speed mixer homogenizer. Aerogel micropowder is produced by pulverizing aerogel particles at 21000 rpm for 20 seconds using a Blendtec STEALTH885. Figure 4 The horizontal axis represents particle size, and the vertical axis represents the frequency distribution of particle size. The vertical axis on the right represents frequency, and the vertical axis on the left represents cumulative value. Figure 4This is based on observations from a laser diffraction particle size distribution (PSD) measurement device. This manual explains particle size measurements based on PSD measurements. In PSD measurements, not only the diameter of the particle itself but also the particle aggregation is observed as particle size; therefore, the actual particle size is more likely to be smaller than the measured value. If there are differences in particle size depending on the measurement method, please perform conversions to understand the results. More specifically... Figure 4 The particle size distribution was measured using the SALD-2300 laser diffraction particle size distribution measuring device manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation. Particle size distribution is an index indicating the proportion (relative particle amount of 100%) of particles of what size (particle diameter) are contained in a sample particle group that is being measured. The dimension (level) of particle amount is based on volume.

[0047] Typically, circulating aerogel particles have an average particle size of approximately 400 μm, and the relative particle count has only one peak. Figure 4 (Lowest layer). When the aerogel particles were pulverized using the aforementioned apparatus, the aerogel powder had an average particle size of approximately 90 μm, and the aerogel micropowder had an average particle size of approximately 50 μm, but each had only one peak relative to the particle size (the 3rd and 2nd layers). In contrast, TIISA had a first peak with an average particle size of approximately 20 μm and a second peak with an average particle size of approximately 0.3 μm. For relative particle size, the first peak with an average particle size of approximately 20 μm accounted for 21.2%, and the second peak with an average particle size of approximately 0.3 μm accounted for 78.8%. This is because the first peak with an average particle size of approximately 20 μm is composed of microparticles with a three-dimensional mesh structure having a framework composed of 12 secondary particles, while the second peak with an average particle size of approximately 0.3 μm is composed of microparticles with a three-dimensional mesh structure having a framework composed of primary particles.

[0048] Because conventional aerogels have a three-dimensional mesh structure with a framework of secondary particles, it is difficult to produce particles with a diameter of less than 10 μm, regardless of how high the pulverization conditions are increased. In order to produce particles with a three-dimensional mesh structure with a framework formed by primary particles, a different process than that for conventional aerogel manufacturing is required. As described in Japanese Patent Application 2020-193892, this requires not only significant changes to the pulverization conditions but also fundamental changes to the manufacturing method, such as drastic alterations to the curing conditions.

[0049] Through experiments described below, the inventors have newly discovered that TIISA exhibits high fluidity and volume retention properties comparable to those of liquids. Dynamic angle of repose and volume change rate were used as indicators of fluidity and volume retention properties, respectively. For example, the angle of repose used in Patent Document 4 is a static angle of repose, suitable for measurements on powders, but may not be appropriate for clearly representing the fluidity of a fluid. Furthermore, the inventors noted that while the insulating material experiences external forces during flow (movement), its volume does not change as a result; that is, volume retention is also an important characteristic.

[0050] [Dynamic Angle of Repose]

[0051] Figure 5 This is an explanatory diagram (schematic cross-sectional view) illustrating the method for measuring the dynamic angle of repose. The dynamic angle of repose measuring apparatus 90 is configured such that a sample 91 is placed in a cylindrical glass container 92, which is then placed on two rotating tubular rollers 93 and rotated, allowing the sample 91 to be observed from the bottom side of the glass container 92. Using the surface of the sample 91 when it is not rotating as a reference, the surface is tilted in relation to the rotation speed, and the angle θ between the surface and the reference at this point is measured as the dynamic angle of repose.

[0052] Figure 6 This is an explanatory diagram showing the measurement results of the dynamic angle of repose. The top layer is water; otherwise, it is... Figure 4 Similarly, starting from the bottom layer, the experimental results for aerogel particles, aerogel powder, aerogel micropowder, and microparticles with a framework formed by primary particles (TIISA) are presented at rotational speeds of 16 rpm, 32 rpm, and 48 rpm. The surface shape is as shown in... Figure 6 The plane, represented by the dashed line, is not flat. However, if the angle θ is quantified using a straight line approximation, then at a rotational speed of 48 rpm, water has an angle of 6°, aerogel particles, aerogel powder, and aerogel micropowder have angles of 50°, 20°, and 26°, respectively. In contrast, TIISA has an angle of 6–15°. Regarding the dynamic angle of repose, it is known that aerogel particles have the largest angle, while TIISA is smaller than that of aerogel powder and aerogel micropowder, and closer to that of water.

[0053] [Rate of volume change]

[0054] The so-called volume change rate is an indicator used by the inventors in this invention as one of the indicators representing the fluidity of TIISA, and it is measured by the following method.

[0055] Figure 7 This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the method for determining the rate of volume change. The sample 91 is placed in a transparent, cylindrical elastic tube 96, and clamped from both sides by pressure blocks 97. Figure 7The upper view is a cross-sectional view taken from the side, and the lower view is a cross-sectional view taken from above at the clamped position x-x. From the initial state, compression is achieved by narrowing the width of the compression block 97, forming a compressed state, after which it returns to its original state (called the recovery state). The elastic tube 96 is a tubular container with a diameter of 12 mm and a wall thickness of 0.25 mm. In the compressed state, the shorter side in the direction of compression becomes 6 mm, and the longer side in the vertical direction becomes 16 mm, but in the recovery state, it returns to its original diameter of 12 mm. The height h of the sample 91 from the initial state... I Initially, under pressure, the height becomes h. H In the recovery state, it becomes high h L In a perfectly fluid environment, if the volume remains unchanged, the height h at which the fluid returns to its original state is... L It will restore to its initial height h I .

[0056] Figure 8 This is the result of the volume change rate measurement. It is plotted with the depth of compression based on the compression block 97 as the horizontal axis, and the change in volume h from the initial state of the surface height. H -h I The graph is plotted with the vertical axis as the ordinate. The change in surface height from the initial state is roughly proportional to the depth of compression, though not strictly accurate. Water, as a completely fluid, exhibits the largest change in surface height at 15 mm, compared to 13 mm for TIISA, 6 mm for aerogel micropowder, 5 mm for aerogel powder, and 2 mm for aerogel particles. When the change in water is set to 1, the relative values ​​for the changes in TIISA, aerogel micropowder, aerogel powder, and aerogel particles are 0.87, 0.40, 0.33, and 0.13, respectively.

[0057] Figure 9This is the result of measuring the change in volume rate over time. The horizontal axis is plotted as the logarithm of the number of repeated compression and recovery cycles, and the vertical axis is plotted as the rate of change from the initial volume of sample 91. As a completely fluid, water's volume remains unchanged even after repeated compression and recovery (volume change rate = 0%). Similarly, the volume change rate of TIISA remains unchanged even after 100 cycles of compression and recovery (volume change rate = 0%). On the other hand, the volume change rates of aerogel particles are 21%, 53%, and 63% for 1, 10, and 100 cycles of compression and recovery, respectively; the volume change rates of aerogel powder are 32%, 42%, and 53% for 1, 10, and 100 cycles of compression and recovery, respectively; and the volume change rates of aerogel micropowder are 42%, 53%, and 84% for 1, 10, and 100 cycles of compression and recovery, respectively. All changes represent increases in volume compared to the initial state. This is believed to be a result of the repeated compression and recovery causing localized disruption of the three-dimensional mesh structure, leading to increased gaps. Based on the experimental results and investigations, it is known that even when aerogels are pulverized while maintaining the particle state, the compression and recovery processes will cause irreversible changes in volume.

[0058] Furthermore, it was discovered that TIISA possesses extremely high hydrophobicity. (TIISA can also be processed to be hydrophilic.) The inventors focused on TIISA's high fluidity, comparable to that of liquids, and noted that it can move through a liquid, unlike the air-based movement described in Patent Documents 1-3. Additionally, it was discovered that due to its high hydrophobicity, the liquid it can be is water.

[0059] If a liquid, especially water, is used as the medium, it is easier to seal in the TIISA to suppress diffusion and leakage, and it is also easier to move the TIISA. If the medium is a liquid with water as the main component, it will not mix with the highly hydrophobic TIISA, and a clear interface can be formed. In addition, the mechanism for sealing in the liquid (water) as the medium and moving it can be a simple elastic cavity, thus forming an extremely simple mechanism. By applying pressure to such an elastic cavity to compress it, the medium can be squeezed out, thereby moving the TIISA to the desired position. Conversely, by releasing it from the compressed state, the TIISA can return to its original position.

[0060] Furthermore, in this specification, particles that can be used as thermal insulation materials are referred to as "TIISA". In addition, there are other materials that are referred to as "TIISA" as thermal insulation materials. However, if the materials have the same flowability and volume retention properties, it goes without saying that the same solution principle can be applied.

[0061] Using this principle, a mechanism can be easily constructed to move the insulation material to the desired position. In particular, when applied to double windows, a mechanism for switching between insulation and lighting can be easily constructed.

[0062] 2. Overview of the Implementation Method

[0063] First, a summary description will be given with reference to representative embodiments disclosed in this application. In the summary description of representative embodiments, the reference numerals in the drawings marked in parentheses are merely illustrative of the cases in which the constituent elements of the reference numerals are included.

[0064] [1] <TIISA insulated window used as thermal insulation material>

[0065] A representative embodiment of the present invention is a heat-insulating window (10) having a pair of panels (7); a space (8) sandwiched between the pair of panels; a heat-insulating material (1) capable of filling the space; and a mechanism (2-6) capable of moving the heat-insulating material into the space to fill it and moving the heat-insulating material out of the space to remove it. The heat-insulating window (10) has the following features.

[0066] The aforementioned thermal insulation material contains microparticles (14) made from aerogel (13) having a three-dimensional mesh structure with a skeleton formed by clusters (12) of primary particles (11).

[0067] Therefore, it is possible to provide an insulated window with a simple mechanism for adjusting heat insulation and light transmission. Here, the mechanism for moving the aforementioned heat insulation material can be implemented in various ways. The aforementioned heat insulation material has high fluidity and volume retention properties similar to those of a liquid, so it can be a mechanism that uses a liquid as a medium to move it, as shown in [3] described later, or it can be a mechanism that adjusts the volume of the space (cavity) containing the heat insulation material like a liquid, thereby applying force to the heat insulation material itself to move it.

[0068] Furthermore, "a pair of panels" means "at least a pair of panels," and an insulated window can also be a multi-pane window with multiple panels (7) and multiple spaces (8). In this case, the insulation material can be filled / removed into multiple spaces in the same way, can be filled / removed independently, or may include spaces that are not filled / removed.

[0069] [2] <Characteristics of TIISA: Particle size>

[0070] In the heat-insulating window of [1], the characteristic is that the particles constituting the heat-insulating material constitute 50% or more of its volume and are dispersed with the most frequent value having a particle size of 0.1 μm or more and 1.0 μm or less.

[0071] This characteristic enables the insulation material to maintain high fluidity.

[0072] [3] <Mechanism for moving thermal insulation material using liquid as a medium>

[0073] In the heat-insulating window of [1] or [2], the above-mentioned mechanism is a mechanism that can move the liquid in contact with the heat-insulating material so as to move the heat-insulating material.

[0074] Therefore, it is possible to provide insulated windows with a simple mechanism for adjusting heat insulation and light transmission. A mechanism using a liquid as a medium is employed to allow the insulation material to move, thereby enabling the application of mechanisms widely used to move the liquid while simultaneously preventing leakage.

[0075] [4] <The medium that causes the insulation material to move is water>

[0076] In the heat-insulating window of [3], the liquid is characterized by water as the main component.

[0077] Therefore, it is possible to construct a mechanism for moving thermal insulation materials at low cost.

[0078] [5] <Switching between insulation material filling and air>

[0079] In any one of the heat-insulating windows in [1] to [4], the above mechanism has an elastic cavity (4) capable of accommodating the heat-insulating material (and the liquid) on the lower side of the space, and a compression mechanism (3) capable of increasing or decreasing the volume of the elastic cavity.

[0080] The aforementioned mechanism reduces the volume of the elastic cavity through the aforementioned compression mechanism, thereby causing the thermal insulation material to move from the elastic cavity into the aforementioned space. Conversely, the aforementioned compression mechanism increases the volume of the elastic cavity, thereby causing the thermal insulation material to move from the aforementioned space into the elastic cavity.

[0081] Therefore, it is possible to easily construct a mechanism for moving the insulation material.

[0082] [6] <Switching between insulation material filling and liquid (water)>

[0083] In the heat-insulating window of [3] or [4], the above mechanism has an upper elastic cavity (5) that can accommodate the heat-insulating material on the upper side of the space, a lower elastic cavity (4) that can accommodate the liquid on the lower side of the space, and a compression mechanism (3) that can increase or decrease the volume of the lower elastic cavity.

[0084] The aforementioned mechanism reduces the volume of the lower elastic cavity through the aforementioned compression mechanism, thereby causing the liquid to move from the elastic cavity to the aforementioned space, and causing the thermal insulation material to move from the aforementioned space to the aforementioned upper elastic cavity. The aforementioned compression mechanism increases the volume of the lower elastic cavity, thereby causing the liquid to move from the aforementioned space into the lower elastic cavity, and causing the thermal insulation material to move from the aforementioned upper elastic cavity into the aforementioned space.

[0085] Therefore, it is possible to easily construct a mechanism for moving the insulation material.

[0086] [7] <Insulation components constructed using flowable insulation materials>

[0087] A representative embodiment of the present invention is a heat insulation component (20) having a cavity (21) capable of changing shape and a heat insulation material (1) contained in the cavity, the heat insulation material being a powder that moves within the cavity as the shape changes.

[0088] Therefore, it is possible to provide a heat-insulating component with a simple mechanism for adjusting heat insulation. A heat-insulating component is a component that constitutes a heat-insulating container, etc., and can be a component constituting a heat-insulating container, in addition to heat-insulating building materials such as the aforementioned heat-insulating window. A cavity, for example, simply needs to have a gap between a pair of sidewalls such as panels, and be able to accommodate heat-insulating material within that gap; its shape is arbitrary. Furthermore, changes in shape include, for example, changes in the volume of the cavity, as well as arbitrary changes such as changes in the shape of the location holding the heat-insulating material, changes in the shape of the thickness of the heat-insulating material, etc.

[0089] [8] <Insulation components using TIISA as insulation material>

[0090] In the heat insulation component of [7], the heat insulation material includes microparticles (14) which are made from aerogel (13) having a three-dimensional mesh structure formed by a cluster (12) of primary particles (11) forming a skeleton.

[0091] This characteristic enables thermal insulation materials to maintain high fluidity and volume retention.

[0092] [9] <Insulating components using insulating materials with fluidity and volume retention properties>

[0093] In the heat insulation component of [7], the heat insulation material has fluidity and has volume retention properties that retain volume before and after the change in the shape of the cavity.

[0094] As long as the insulating material has high fluidity and volume retention properties, even materials that do not have the characteristics described in [7] above can be used in the insulating components of the present invention. This includes the insulating windows described in [1] to [5] above, which are appropriate in all embodiments.

[0095]

[10] <Decompression of Cavities>

[0096] In the heat insulation component of [7] or [8], the pressure inside the cavity is reduced compared to the external air pressure.

[0097] This allows for a significant reduction in the thermal conductivity of the insulation components (improving insulation performance). In particular, the improvement in insulation performance is even more pronounced in [7].

[0098]

[11] <Using a gas with a lower thermal conductivity than air to fill a cavity>

[0099] In the thermal insulation component of [7] or [8], the cavity is filled with a gas (e.g., carbon dioxide) with a lower thermal conductivity than air.

[0100] This reduces the thermal conductivity of the insulation component (improves insulation performance). After decompression as described in [9] above, the filling state can be maintained for a longer period of time compared to maintaining the decompression state. Furthermore, combinations with

[11] to

[14] below are also easier to achieve.

[0101]

[12] <Movement of thermal insulation materials with liquid as the medium>

[0102] In the heat insulation component of [7], a liquid (2) that is exclusive to the heat insulation material is further contained in the cavity. Here, exclusiveness is the opposite of affinity, meaning the property of not mixing, such as hydrophobicity, which is equivalent to the property of a substance that does not mix with water.

[0103] Therefore, it is possible to easily construct a mechanism for moving the insulation material.

[0104]

[13] <Movement of water-based insulation materials>

[0105] In the heat insulation component of [7], the heat insulation material is hydrophobic, and water (2) is further contained in the cavity.

[0106] Therefore, by using water as the medium to move the insulation material, the aforementioned mechanism can be easily constructed.

[0107]

[14] <Insulation Material Moving Mechanism>

[0108] In the heat insulation component of [7], the cavity has one or more pairs of panels (21i, 21w) and a heat insulation material receiving portion (23), each of the one or more pairs of panels having a gap (22) capable of receiving the heat insulation material on its inner side. The heat insulation material receiving portion receives the heat insulation material, and the volume change of the space continuous with the gap thereby squeezes the heat insulation material into or recycles the heat insulation material from the gap of the panel.

[0109] This allows the insulation material to move between the gap between the paired panels and the insulation material storage area, thereby enabling the adjustment of the insulation performance of the panel portion.

[0110]

[15] <Moving mechanism for thermal insulation material using liquid as medium>

[0111] In the heat insulation component of

[12] , the cavity has one or more pairs of panels (21i, 21w), a heat insulation material storage part (23) and a liquid storage part (24), and the one or more pairs of panels each have a gap (22) that can accommodate the heat insulation material on the inside.

[0112] The aforementioned heat insulation material storage section has a space connected to the aforementioned gap, which can accommodate the aforementioned heat insulation material. The aforementioned liquid storage section accommodates the aforementioned liquid. By changing the volume of the space connected to the aforementioned gap, the aforementioned liquid is moved, thereby enabling the aforementioned heat insulation material to be squeezed into the gap of the aforementioned panel or to be recovered from the gap of the aforementioned panel.

[0113] This allows the insulation material to move between the gap between the paired panels and the insulation material storage section, thereby adjusting the insulation performance of the panel portion. The liquid storage section (24) is a volume adjustment mechanism using liquid as the medium. The liquid used as the medium for moving the insulation material (e.g., water) has the effect of suppressing leakage even when there are movable parts, thus increasing the degree of freedom in designing the volume adjustment mechanism.

[0114] 3. Details of the implementation method

[0115] The implementation method is described in further detail.

[0116] [Implementation Method 1]

[0117] Figure 1 This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the configuration of a heat-insulating window 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0118] The heat-insulating window 10 of this embodiment includes: a pair of panels 7; a space 8 sandwiched between the pair of panels 7; a heat-insulating material 1 capable of being filled into the space 8; and mechanisms 2 to 6 capable of moving the heat-insulating material 1 into the space 8 to fill it and moving the heat-insulating material 1 out of the space 8 to remove it. The heat-insulating material 1 comprises microparticles 14, which are made from aerogel 13 having a three-dimensional mesh structure with a skeleton formed by clusters 12 of primary particles 11. The above-described mechanism is a mechanism that can move the liquid 2 in contact with the heat-insulating material 1 so as to move the heat-insulating material 1. As the medium for moving the heat-insulating material 1, liquid 2 is used, which makes sealing easier compared to using gas (air), and there is almost no volume change when pressure is applied. Therefore, it has the advantage of being able to transmit the applied pressure to the heat-insulating material 1 in its original state and move it. Thus, a heat-insulating window 10 with a simple mechanism for adjusting heat insulation and light transmission can be provided.

[0119] For the microparticles 14 constituting the thermal insulation material 1, it is preferable that they have a highest frequency value (peak value) of dispersion in the frequency distribution of their particle size of 1.0 μm or less. Furthermore, it is even more advantageous if more than 50% of their volume is dispersed in the particle size of 0.1 μm to 1.0 μm with a highest frequency value. The thermal insulation material 1 has this characteristic, thereby ensuring the high fluidity of the thermal insulation material 1.

[0120] The thermal insulation material 1 is preferably a powder formed from microparticles having the above-mentioned characteristics in particle size distribution, but it is not limited to this; any material having the same degree of flowability (dynamic angle of repose) and volume retention properties is acceptable. For example, regarding the dynamic angle of repose, if referring to... Figure 6 The experimental results show that insulation materials with a dynamic angle of repose 3 to 4 times that of water can be used. Furthermore, the volume retention performance is preferably the same as that of a liquid. The mechanism for moving the insulation material is optimally designed using parameters such as the force applied to the insulation material for movement, the frequency of movement, and the lifespan of the insulation material.

[0121] In this heat-insulating window 10, the liquid 2 is preferably a liquid with water as its main component. This is because the heat-insulating material 1 is formed into a material with high hydrophobicity and high fluidity as described above, so it will not mix with the water-based liquid 2, and a clear interface can be formed, thereby allowing the heat-insulating material to move smoothly using the liquid 2. In addition, by using water as the liquid 2, the mechanism for moving the heat-insulating material can be constructed at a low cost.

[0122] The mechanism that moves the insulation material 1, for example, is capable of... Figure 1The structure is shown. In the heat-insulating window 10, the mechanism consists of a frame, which has a lower elastic cavity 4 and an upper elastic cavity 5 on the lower and upper sides of the space 8 held by a transparent panel 7 such as glass, respectively. The frame supports the panel 7 and accommodates the lower elastic cavity 4 and the upper elastic cavity 5 on the upper and lower sides, respectively. A compression mechanism 3 capable of controlling the volume of the lower elastic cavity 4 is housed in the lower frame 6. Figure 1 As shown in (a), the lower elastic cavity 4 has a volume capable of containing the heat insulation material 1 and the liquid 2 within the lower frame 6. At this time, the space 8 is filled with air, thus the heat-insulating window 10 becomes transparent, allowing visible light to pass through. Meanwhile, the upper elastic cavity 5 has its smallest volume. The lower elastic cavity 4 is reduced in volume by pressure applied from the compression mechanism 3 disposed around it, thereby squeezing the heat insulation material 1 into the space 8. The space 8 becomes filled with the heat insulation material 1, becoming a heat-shielding state. At this time, the upper elastic cavity 5 expands to contain the air squeezed out from the space 8. Thus, a mechanism for moving the heat insulation material can be easily constructed.

[0123] The lower elastic cavity 4 is bonded to the panel 7 at its lower end, and the upper elastic cavity 5 is bonded to the panel 7 at its upper end, sealed in a way that prevents the thermal insulation material 1 from leaking out of the space 8 and prevents the liquid 2 from evaporating. The lower elastic cavity 4 and the upper elastic cavity 5 can be made of, for example, rubber or latex. The lower elastic cavity 4 can also be configured to expand under its own weight, thereby maximizing its volume. Alternatively, the upper elastic cavity 5 can be configured to contain air, thus expanding naturally, and then naturally contracting as the liquid 2 returns to the lower elastic cavity 4, depressurizing the space 8. The compression mechanism 3 that compresses the lower elastic cavity 4 can be, for example, a mechanism that transmits pressure applied from the outside of the frame directly or through gears to increase displacement.

[0124] The mechanism for moving the insulation material 1 can be implemented in various ways different from Embodiment 1. For example, instead of the lower elastic cavity 4, a cavity for accommodating the insulation material 1 can be pre-formed in the lower part of the space 8 held by a pair of panels 7. By injecting liquid 2 as a medium into this cavity, the insulation material 1 can be moved into the space 8. When the panels 7 are large and the volume of the insulation material 1 used to fill the space 8 is large, and the power required to move the insulation material 1 into the space 8 is large, it is effective to configure the structure so that liquid 2 can be injected using electrical energy.

[0125] Alternatively, for example, it can be configured such that the lower elastic cavity 4 expands to the left and right of the window frame. By effectively utilizing the volume of the window frame containing the liquid (water) 2, the window frame can be miniaturized. Furthermore, by properly balancing the water level when the liquid (water) 2 is contained in the left and right window frames, a force can be generated by the weight of the liquid (water) 2 contained in the left and right window frames to squeeze the insulation material 1 out of the lower frame, thereby allowing the insulation material 1 to be moved with a weaker force.

[0126] The gas filling space 8 was described as air, but it is also possible to replace air with a gas with lower thermal conductivity, such as carbon dioxide. This would suppress the decrease in heat-shielding performance in the transparent state.

[0127] [Implementation Method 2]

[0128] Figure 2 This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the configuration of the heat-insulating window 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Basically, it is related to... Figure 1 The heat-insulating window 10 of Embodiment 1 shown has the same structure, but the lower elastic cavity 4 forms a volume capable of containing the liquid 2 within the lower frame 6, and the upper elastic cavity 5 forms a volume capable of containing the heat-insulating material 1 within the upper frame 6. The lower elastic cavity 4 contains the liquid 2, and the heat-insulating material 1 fills the space 8, thereby making the heat-insulating window 10 in a heat-shielding state. Figure 2 In (a), the lower elastic cavity 4 is compressed, thereby squeezing the liquid 2 into the space 8. When the upper elastic cavity 5 contains the heat insulation material 1, it becomes transparent. Figure 2 (b)). This explanation is, of course, based on the premise that liquid 2 is transparent. By making liquid 2 semi-transparent to the same degree as the heat insulation material 1, the transparency is not changed, and therefore the heat-blocking performance can be controlled without affecting the light-transmitting area. Alternatively, liquid 2 can be made opaque compared to the heat insulation material 1. According to this embodiment, a mechanism for moving the heat insulation material can also be easily constructed.

[0129] By setting liquid 2 to water, it is possible to construct it at a lower cost. Here, if panel 7 is made of a hydrophilic material such as glass, the inner wall of panel 7 will be wet when liquid (water) 2 is discharged. However, since space 8 is filled with translucent heat-insulating material 1, the window is translucent and thus does not compromise the aesthetics.

[0130] Furthermore, the detailed implementation methods and various modifications described in Implementation 1 can also be applied to Implementation 2.

[0131] [Implementation Method 3]

[0132] Both Embodiments 1 and 2 are mechanisms (4 to 6) that use liquid (water) 2 as a medium to move the insulation material 1, but the mechanism for moving the insulation material 1 can also be implemented in various other ways.

[0133] Figure 13 This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the configuration of a heat-insulating window 10 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Essentially, it is related to... Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 The heat-insulating window 10 shown in Embodiments 1 and 2 has the same structure, but it is a mechanism that moves the heat-insulating material 1 by applying force to the material itself without using the liquid (water) 2 as a medium. That is, the lower elastic cavity 4 forms a volume that can accommodate the heat-insulating material 1 in the lower frame 6, and the upper elastic cavity 5 forms a volume that can accommodate the air squeezed out by the heat-insulating material 1 in the upper frame 6. The other structures are the same as in Embodiments 1 and 2, so repeated descriptions are omitted.

[0134] The lower elastic cavity 4 is compressed, squeezing out and filling the space 8 with the heat insulation material 1 already contained therein, thereby making the heat insulation window 10 a heat-shielding state. Figure 13 (a)). At this time, the air and other gases in space 8 are further squeezed out, causing the upper elastic cavity 5 to expand within the frame 6. On the other hand, the lower elastic cavity 4 is released from compression and expands, becoming transparent when the insulation material 1 squeezed into space 8 returns to the lower elastic cavity 4 and is contained therein. Figure 13 (b)). In this way, a mechanism can be constructed that directly applies force to the insulation material 1, thereby causing it to move. Furthermore, the detailed embodiments and various modifications described in Embodiment 1 can also be applied to Embodiment 3. This Embodiment 3 is an example in which cavities 4 and 5 are formed by elastic materials, but as long as the volume of cavities 4 and 5 can be adjusted, elastic materials are not necessary.

[0135] Furthermore, this embodiment 3 can be determined as an embodiment obtained by applying the following embodiment 4 to the heat-insulating window 10. That is, a heat-insulating window has a cavity that can change shape and a heat-insulating material contained in the cavity. The heat-insulating material is a powder, and any material that moves within the cavity as the shape of the cavity changes is acceptable. In this case, the heat-insulating material, which is a powder, needs to have high fluidity, and it is even more preferable if it has volume retention properties similar to those of a liquid. In this case, various modifications described in embodiment 4 can also be applied to the heat-insulating window 10 of this embodiment 3. For example, although the illustration is omitted, it can be constructed by imitation. Figure 12 The example shown allows for adjustment of the spacing (gap) between a pair of panels 7, thereby enabling adjustment of the thermal insulation performance of the insulated window.

[0136] [Implementation Method 4]

[0137] Embodiments 1, 2, and 3 are examples of applying the present invention to a heat-insulating window 10, but the present invention can be applied to more general heat-insulating components. That is, a more general embodiment of the present invention is a heat-insulating component comprising a cavity capable of changing shape and a heat-insulating material contained within the cavity. The heat-insulating material is a powder, and any material that moves within the cavity as the shape of the cavity changes is acceptable. In this case, the heat-insulating material, being a powder, is required to have the same degree of fluidity as a liquid; furthermore, it is more preferable if it has the same degree of volume retention performance as a liquid. Thus, a heat-insulating component with a simple mechanism for adjusting heat insulation can be provided.

[0138] TIISA is a preferred material for thermal insulation. TIISA is a powder containing microparticles 14, which are made from an aerogel 13 having a three-dimensional mesh structure formed by clusters 12 of primary particles 11 forming a framework. TIISA has the above-described structure, thereby achieving the aforementioned flowability and volume retention properties required for thermal insulation materials.

[0139] The cavity can also be depressurized to a pressure lower than the external air pressure. This significantly reduces the thermal conductivity of the insulation component (improving insulation performance). In particular, the improvement in insulation performance is even more significant when TIISA is used as the insulation material. With TIISA, the skeleton occupies less than 1% of the overall volume, and air is vented from the remaining 99% or more of the space (gap) to reduce pressure, thereby suppressing convection. Since the space (gap) contributes significantly to thermal conductivity, venting has a substantial impact on improving insulation performance. On the other hand, with conventional aerogels, the skeleton (solid) occupies as much as about 5% of the overall volume. Because the skeleton (solid) contributes significantly to thermal conductivity, even when venting the gaps to suppress convection, the improvement in insulation performance is relatively small.

[0140] Alternatively, the cavity can be filled with a gas with a lower thermal conductivity than air (e.g., carbon dioxide). This reduces the thermal conductivity of the insulation component (improving insulation performance). After decompression as described above, the filled state can be maintained more easily for a longer period compared to maintaining a decompressed state. Furthermore, in Figure 11 In cases where a liquid (e.g., water) is used as the medium for moving the insulation material, as shown in the example, a gas with lower thermal conductivity (e.g., carbon dioxide) is more suitable than the pressure reduction method described above.

[0141] Figure 10This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration example of a heat-insulating container 20 using the heat-insulating component of this embodiment. The heat-insulating container 20 is composed of a heat-insulating component surrounding its perimeter. Specifically, the container 20 includes a sidewall formed by a cavity having a gap 22 held between an inner wall 21i and an outer wall 21w, a cavity 21c in the top cover portion, and a cavity provided at the bottom that forms a heat-insulating material storage portion 23. The cavity 21c in the top cover portion is filled with heat-insulating material 1. A continuous space is formed between the gap 22 held between the inner wall 21i and the outer wall 21w and the heat-insulating material storage portion 23, and heat-insulating material 1 is filled into this space. The heat-insulating material storage portion 23 is configured to change its volume. By reducing its volume, the heat-insulating material 1 inside is fed into the gap 22 held between the inner wall 21i and the outer wall 21w. By returning the volume to its original state, the heat-insulating material 1 is recovered from the gap 22 into the heat-insulating material storage portion 23.

[0142] The mechanism for changing the volume of the insulation material storage section 23 can be, for example, an outer cylinder 27, a piston 28, and an operating rod 29 for pressing or pulling the piston 28 in or out. Alternatively, the insulation material 1 inside the insulation material storage section 23 can be kept out of the contact area between the outer cylinder 27 and the piston 28, and a bag of soft sheet material (not shown) such as latex can be used to tightly adhere from the front end of the outer cylinder 27 to the front end of the piston 28, thus separating the inner and outer spaces.

[0143] The portion of the sidewall filled with insulation material 1 has higher insulation performance, while the portion not reached has lower insulation performance. For example, the insulation material 1 can be selectively moved to portions requiring higher insulation performance, such as those with greater temperature differences between the inside and outside. Furthermore, it can be said that the overall insulation performance of the sidewall can be controlled based on the size of the area reached and filled by the insulation material 1.

[0144] Figure 11 This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating another configuration example of the insulated container 20 using the insulated component of this embodiment. In this example, the cavity at the bottom of the insulated container 20 is formed by an insulated material receiving portion 23 and a liquid receiving portion 24, which is consistent with... Figure 10 The insulated container 20 is different. Other structures are different. Figure 10 The insulated container 20 is common to all other containers, therefore description is omitted. The mechanism for adjusting the volume of the bottom cavity can be configured to work in conjunction with... Figure 10The mechanism shown is the same as the one that changes the volume of the insulation material storage section 23, but the bottom cavity also contains liquid 2 in addition to the insulation material 1. When the volume changes through the above mechanism, it is the liquid 2 that is directly acted upon, and the insulation material 1 is moved by the pressure of the liquid 2. The liquid 2 has exclusivity relative to the insulation material 1, that is, the liquid 2 is a material that does not mix with the insulation material 1 and forms a clear interface. For example, if TIISA is used as the insulation material 1, the liquid 2 can also form a liquid with water as the main component. TIISA has extremely high hydrophobicity, so it can move according to the volume change without mixing with water through a clear interface. By introducing liquid (water) 2 into the bottom cavity, known means of suppressing water leakage can also be used when setting a volume adjustment mechanism such as the outer cylinder 27 and the piston 28. That is, by using a liquid (such as water) as a medium for moving the insulation material, leakage can be suppressed even if there are moving parts, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in designing the volume adjustment mechanism.

[0145] Figure 12 This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating yet another configuration example of an insulated container using the insulated component of this embodiment. Figure 10 and Figure 11 In the illustrated configuration, a volume adjustment mechanism is provided in the bottom cavity, but the thickness of the insulation material 1 filling the cavity in the sidewall portion is changed, thereby adjusting the insulation performance. The cavity in the sidewall portion is formed by the gap between the inner wall 21i and the outer wall 21w. The bottom of the container 20 has a double structure of floor surface 21f and bottom surface 21b, with the insulation material 1 filled in the gap. The cavity 21c of the top cover is configured such that the space is connected to the gap between the inner wall 21i and the outer wall 21w, allowing the insulation material 1 to move freely. By extending the outer wall 21w outward, the gap between the inner wall 21i and the outer wall 21w becomes the largest, thereby maximizing the insulation performance. Figure 12 (a)). By pressing the outer wall 21w towards the inner wall 21i to narrow the gap, the filled insulation material 1 is squeezed out into the cavity 21c of the top cover, thereby thinning the insulation material 1 filling the cavity of the side wall portion, thus reducing the insulation performance. Figure 12 (b)). Furthermore, the cavity 21c of the top cover portion can also be tilted towards the gap of the side wall portion. The angle of tilt determines the extent to which the insulation material 1 moves towards the gap of the side wall portion due to its own weight.

[0146] Adjusting the thermal insulation performance can be applied to a variety of applications. For example, proper management of the internal pressure is required for liquefied hydrogen storage tanks used to supply hydrogen to fuel cell vehicles. To prevent excessive internal pressure from causing the tank to rupture, venting is necessary, resulting in the waste of hydrogen discarded from the container. Conversely, if the internal pressure is too low, problems arise regarding the proper filling of hydrogen from the storage tank into the fuel cell vehicle. The same internal pressure adjustment is also required in the storage tanks of liquefied hydrogen transported over long distances on cargo ships.

[0147] The invention made by the inventor has been specifically described above based on the embodiments, but the invention is not limited thereto, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from its spirit.

[0148] Industrial applications

[0149] The present invention can be appropriately used in heat insulation components that can change the position of heat insulation, and can be more appropriately applied to heat insulation windows that can switch between a transparent state and a light-blocking / heat-blocking state.

[0150] Symbol explanation:

[0151] 1-Insulation material; 2-Liquid (water); 3-Compression mechanism; 4-Lower elastic cavity; 5-Upper elastic cavity; 6-Frame; 7-Panel; 8-Space; 10-Insulated window; 11-Primary particles; 12-Secondary particles (aggregates or clusters of primary particles); 13-Aerogel particles (particles whose skeleton is formed by secondary particles); 14-Microparticles whose skeleton is formed by primary particles (e.g., TIISA); 20-Insulated container; 21-Cavity; 21i, 21w, 21f, 21b - Inner wall, outer wall, floor surface, and bottom surface of the insulated container; 21c - Cavity of the top cover portion of the insulated container; 22 - Gap (space); 23 - Insulation material storage section; 24 - Liquid storage section, volume adjustment mechanism with liquid as medium; 27 - Outer cylinder; 28 - Piston; 29 - Operating rod; 90 - Dynamic angle of repose measuring device; 91 - Sample; 92 - Glass container; 93 - Roller; 96 - Elastic tube; 97 - Pressure block.

Claims

1. A heat-insulating window comprising: a pair of panels; a space sandwiched between the pair of panels; a heat-insulating material capable of filling the space; and a mechanism for moving the heat-insulating material into the space to fill it and moving the heat-insulating material out of the space to remove it. Its features are, The thermal insulation material comprises microparticles, which are made from an aerogel having a three-dimensional mesh structure with a framework formed by clusters of primary particles, and having a three-dimensional mesh structure with a framework formed by the primary particles. The microparticles constituting the thermal insulation material are dispersed such that more than 50% of their volume has a particle size of 0.1 μm to 1.0 μm and has the most frequent value.

2. The heat-insulating window according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mechanism is one that can move a liquid in contact with the insulation material so as to move the insulation material.

3. The heat-insulating window according to claim 2, characterized in that, The thermal insulation material is hydrophobic, and the liquid is mainly composed of water.

4. The heat-insulating window according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mechanism includes an elastic cavity capable of accommodating the thermal insulation material and the liquid on the lower side of the space, and a compression mechanism capable of increasing or decreasing the volume of the elastic cavity. The mechanism reduces the volume of the elastic cavity through the compression mechanism, thereby causing the thermal insulation material to move from the elastic cavity into the space. It also increases the volume of the elastic cavity through the compression mechanism, thereby causing the thermal insulation material to move from the space into the elastic cavity.

5. The heat-insulating window according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mechanism includes an upper elastic cavity capable of accommodating the thermal insulation material on the upper side of the space, a lower elastic cavity capable of accommodating the liquid on the lower side of the space, and a compression mechanism capable of increasing or decreasing the volume of the lower elastic cavity. The structure is as follows: The compression mechanism reduces the volume of the lower elastic cavity, thereby causing the liquid to move from the elastic cavity into the space, and causing the insulation material to move from the space into the upper elastic cavity. The compression mechanism increases the volume of the lower elastic cavity, thereby causing the liquid to move from the space into the lower elastic cavity and the thermal insulation material to move from the upper elastic cavity into the space.

6. A heat insulation component, characterized in that, It has a cavity capable of changing shape and a heat-insulating material contained within the cavity. The thermal insulation material is in powder form and moves within the cavity as its shape changes. The thermal insulation material comprises microparticles, which are made from an aerogel having a three-dimensional mesh structure with a framework formed by clusters of primary particles, and having a three-dimensional mesh structure with a framework formed by the primary particles. The microparticles constituting the thermal insulation material are dispersed such that more than 50% of their volume has a particle size of 0.1 μm to 1.0 μm and has the most frequent value.

7. The heat insulation component according to claim 6, characterized in that, The thermal insulation material has fluidity and volume retention properties, enabling it to maintain its volume before and after the change in the shape of the cavity.

8. The heat insulation component according to claim 6, characterized in that, The air pressure inside the cavity is reduced compared to the external air pressure.

9. The heat insulation component according to claim 6, characterized in that, The cavity is filled with a gas that has a lower thermal conductivity than air.

10. The heat insulation component according to claim 6, characterized in that, The cavity further contains a liquid that is exclusive to the insulation material.

11. The heat insulation component according to claim 6, characterized in that, The thermal insulation material is hydrophobic. The cavity further contains water.

12. The heat insulation component according to claim 6, characterized in that, The cavity has one or more pairs of panels and a heat insulation material storage section. The one or more pairs of panels each have a gap that can accommodate the thermal insulation material on the inside. The heat insulation material receiving section contains the heat insulation material, and by changing the volume of the space continuous with the gap, the heat insulation material is squeezed into or retracted from the gap of the panel.

13. The heat insulation component according to claim 10, characterized in that, The cavity has one or more pairs of panels, a heat insulation material storage section, and a liquid storage section. The one or more pairs of panels each have a gap that can accommodate the thermal insulation material on the inside. The insulation material storage section has a space that connects with the gap, and is capable of accommodating the insulation material within the space. The liquid receiving section contains the liquid, and the liquid moves by changing the volume of the space continuous with the gap, thereby squeezing the heat insulation material into or recovering the heat insulation material from the gap of the panel.

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