Evacuable Container Thermal Insulation Using Controlled Vacuum Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for thermal insulation of evacuable containers face challenges such as prolonged filling durations and significant discharge of thermally insulating materials during the evacuation process.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the evacuation, filling, compression, and sealing of a cavity with thermally insulating particulate material, utilizing a vacuum pump to control pressure and air flow, and optionally moving the container and reservoir to optimize filling efficiency, with the use of compressed silica powder for minimal discharge and enhanced thermal insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cavity is evacuated before filling with thermally insulating particulate material, then the thermal insulation quality is improved, but the filling duration is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity is evacuated to a first pressure value before filling with thermally insulating particulate material. This preliminary evacuation removes air and contaminants that would otherwise compromise thermal insulation quality, while the sequential process design ensures this preparatory step does not excessively prolong overall filling duration.
2Reliability
If the thermally insulating particulate material is filled into the evacuated cavity, then the thermal insulation is achieved, but significant discharge of material occurs during evacuation
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity is evacuated to a controlled first pressure value that is sufficient to achieve thermal insulation but not so extreme as to cause excessive material discharge. This partial evacuation approach balances insulation quality with material retention, avoiding the harmful effect of complete or excessive vacuum that would discharge particulate material.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure in the cavity is precisely controlled and changed through defined stages: evacuated to a first pressure value before filling, and later to a second pressure value after filling. These parameter changes are optimized to achieve thermal insulation while minimizing material discharge, demonstrating controlled parameter adjustment to balance competing requirements.
3Temperature
If the pressure in the cavity is reduced to achieve vacuum insulation, then thermal conductivity is reduced, but material settling behavior deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity pressure is changed through defined stages: first evacuated to remove air for thermal insulation, then controlled during and after filling to maintain proper material settling. The pressure parameters are carefully adjusted to achieve low thermal conductivity while preserving material stability and preventing excessive settling or discharge.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method significantly reduces filling time and minimizes the discharge of thermally insulating material, achieving efficient thermal insulation with a silica-based powder that maintains low thermal conductivity and good flow properties.
Implementation Method 1
a) using a vacuum pump to reduce a pressure in the cavity
Implementation Method 2
the powder forms a vacuum insulation in the walls
Data Source
AI summary
Method for thermal insulation of an evacuable container comprising an inner container, an outer container and a cavity disposed between the inner container and the outer container, wherein said method comprisesa) using a vacuum pump to reduce a pressure in the cavity and after achieving a first value of the pressure interrupting the connection to the vacuum pump,b) subsequently making a connection from a reservoir container of the thermally insulating particulate material to a filling opening provided in the region of the cavity,c) setting the evacuable container into motion, wherein the thermally insulating particulate material flows into the cavity according to a) and the pressure in the cavity increases due to the air introduced with the thermally insulating particulate material,d) terminating the filling at a second value of the pressure by interrupting the connection from the cavity to the reservoir container,e) repeating step a), wherein the output of the vacuum pump with which the cavity is deaerated is controlled such that the profile over time of the mass flow exiting from the cavity of air introduced with the thermally insulating particulate material is at a maximum,f) subsequently repeating steps b)-e) up to the desired degree of filling andg) as the final step sealing the evacuated cavity.