Fiber Insulation Gas-Tight Enclosure Low Thermal Conductivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional insulation products with mineral wool have high thermal conductivity due to air trapped within them, which limits their effectiveness in reducing heat transfer.
Innovation Solution
Enclosing a portion of fiber-based insulation, such as mineral wool, in a gastight space filled with gases like carbon dioxide, argon, or xenon, which have lower thermal conductivity than air, and using metal-coated laminates or sheet metals to create a secure gas-tight environment at normal atmospheric pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If air is trapped within fiber-based insulation, then the insulation structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the thermal conductivity is high which limits insulation effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by replacing the gas phase component (air) with alternative gases having different thermal properties. Specifically, the insulation transitions from air-filled pores to gas-filled pores where the gas has lower thermal conductivity, thereby reducing heat transfer while maintaining the fibrous structure's ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite insulation system combining fiber-based material with specific gas fillers. The composite consists of the fibrous matrix (providing structural framework) and the low-conductivity gas (providing thermal insulation), achieving synergistic effect that reduces overall thermal conductivity better than either component alone
2Loss of energy
If gas with lower thermal conductivity than air is introduced into the insulation, then thermal insulation performance improves, but the device complexity increases due to gastight enclosures and gas filling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the insulation into discrete fiber bundles or mat structures that can be individually treated and sealed. This segmentation allows for practical implementation of gastight enclosures around manageable units rather than attempting to seal large continuous volumes, reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a membrane or barrier layer as an intermediary between the fiber insulation and the external environment. This intermediary component enables gas retention without requiring complex sealing mechanisms, simplifying the overall system while achieving the desired gas containment for improved thermal performance
3Device complexity
If conventional air-filled fiber insulation is used, then the insulation product is simple in structure, but heat transfer through the insulation is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameter of the pore-filling medium from air to gases with lower thermal conductivity. This parameter change directly reduces the heat transfer coefficient of the insulation material while maintaining the simple fibrous structure, achieving better thermal performance without significant structural complexity increase
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 approach significantly reduces thermal conductivity by replacing air with low-conductivity gases, maintaining the reduction over time and enhancing the insulation's gas-tightness, thereby improving thermal insulation performance.
Implementation Method 1
at least one gas whose thermal conductivity is lower than that of air
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to an insulation product containing fiber-based insulation (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), wherein at least a portion (3, 4, 5, 6) of the fiber-based insulation is confined in a gastight space which contains at least one gas whose thermal conductivity is lower than that of air.