Gas-Filled Insulation Panel with Optimized Chamber Gaps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current thermal insulation materials, such as nanofoams and vacuum panels, face challenges in achieving low thermal conductivity below that of air, high manufacturing costs, and inadequate sound insulation, with prior gases being environmentally harmful or economically unfeasible due to high density and complex production processes.

Innovation Solution

A gas-filled insulation panel with chambers partitioned by metallic sheets and filled with gases like R32 and R23 mixtures, argon, and carbon dioxide, optimized for larger gaps and fewer chambers to reduce thermal conductivity and manufacturing complexity, while ensuring non-flammability and low emissivity to enhance sound insulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If aerogels or vacuum panels are used to achieve thermal conductivity below that of air, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly and sound insulation remains inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the insulation system by using gas-filled chambers with optimized gap dimensions (18-22 mm) and selecting specific gases (argon, carbon dioxide, hydrofluorocarbons with molecular mass 38-71) to achieve thermal conductivity below that of air (0.024 W/mK) through controlled thermal radiation and convection suppression, while maintaining manufacturing feasibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite insulation structure combining metallic partition sheets with low-emissivity coatings and gas-filled chambers, integrating multiple functional layers (reflective barriers, gas insulation, structural support) to achieve both superior thermal insulation and sound insulation without the prohibitive costs of aerogels or vacuum panels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Temperature

If heavy molecular gases are used to reduce thermal conductivity, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but gas density increases and convection control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoidgas density
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the molecular mass parameter of the filling gas within the range of 38-71, which provides an optimal balance between thermal conductivity and density. This parameter selection ensures that convection is sufficiently suppressed while maintaining economically viable gas densities and allowing larger chamber gaps (18-22 mm) compared to traditional heavy gases

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Temperature

If the number of chambers is increased to improve thermal insulation, then thermal conductivity decreases, but manufacturing complexity and material usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoidnumber of chambers
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chamber gap dimension parameter to 18-22 mm, which is larger than traditional GFP panels. This parameter change allows achieving the same or better thermal insulation performance with fewer chambers, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity, material usage, and overall panel thickness while maintaining effective thermal conductivity below that of air

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The solution achieves thermal conductivity below that of air with reduced material costs and complexity, while providing effective sound insulation and addressing environmental concerns through the use of safer, industrially available gases, and a concave construction board to manage pressure changes without mechanical stress.

Implementation Method 1

A space between chamber partitions for such heavy gases must amount to less than 5 mm to prevent convection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection suppression: Convection

Implementation Method 2

a low-emission substance on at least one side of a wall between chambers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 3

At room temperature conditions at least one sheet is arranged under the first construction board in a concave manner, so that upon an increase in temperature the insulation gas expands towards the internal construction board

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP2340338B1Gas filled insulation construction panel
Publication Date: 2014.01.22 CBS INST CELOVITE GRADBENE RESITVE D O O
  • EP2340338B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

A gas filled panel (GFP) intended for general use, especially in construction, mostly in prefabricated building envelopes, i.e. integrated facades. A panel of the first embodiment is characterized in that it is a two- or more-chamber panel made of at least approximately plan parallel chambers with a mutual distance larger than or equal 8 mm, preferably between 8 and 12 mm, filled with insulation gas, which is a binary or ternary mixture of gases from hydrof luorocarbons (HFC), carbon dioxide and argon and the mixture has an average molecular mass higher than 50 and lower than 71. A panel of the second embodiment is characterized in that it is a three- or more- chamber panel made of at least approximately plan parallel chambers with a mutual distance larger than or equal 18 mm, preferably between 18 and 22 mm, filled with insulation gas, or a mixture of gases having an average molecular mass higher than 38 and lower than 50.