Insulated Pipe with Vacuum Panels and Polymer Foam
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Solution Overview
Problem
District heating systems experience significant energy losses due to thermal conductivity, with existing insulation methods failing to adequately reduce heat loss, particularly in sparse areas where losses can reach up to 40%.
Innovation Solution
An insulated pipe design featuring a vacuum insulation panel with a porous core material and a multi-layer envelope, including metallized polymer layers, arranged around the circumference of an inner pipe, combined with polymer foam filling the space between the vacuum insulation panel and the encasement pipe, to minimize thermal bridges and enhance insulation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional polyurethane foam insulation is used, then the insulation provides basic thermal protection, but thermal conductivity remains high causing significant energy losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines vacuum insulation panels with polymer foam in a composite insulation structure. The VIP provides high-performance thermal insulation with low thermal conductivity, while the polymer foam fills gaps and provides structural support. This composite approach achieves superior energy loss reduction compared to conventional foam alone, without requiring overly complex individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal conductivity parameter of the insulation material by introducing vacuum insulation panels with metallized polymer layers. These panels have significantly lower thermal conductivity than conventional foam, directly addressing the energy loss problem. The metallized layers reflect thermal radiation, further reducing heat transfer through the insulation.
2Loss of energy
If thicker insulation is used to reduce thermal conductivity, then energy loss decreases, but the encasement pipe diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The composite insulation structure combines thin VIP panels with polymer foam to achieve high thermal performance without requiring thick insulation layers. The VIP panels provide exceptional insulation in a thin profile, allowing the encasement pipe to maintain a compact diameter while still achieving significant energy loss reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal conductivity parameter by using vacuum insulation panels with metallized polymer layers, which have much lower thermal conductivity than conventional materials. This allows for thinner insulation thickness to achieve the same or better thermal performance, thereby reducing the overall pipe diameter.
3Loss of energy
If metal layers are used in the vacuum insulation panel envelope, then thermal reflection improves, but thermal bridges form at panel edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies metallized polymer layers selectively at critical locations where thermal bridges are most likely to form, such as at panel edges and joints. The polymer foam is used in regions where structural support and gap filling are needed. This localized application of different materials optimizes thermal reflection where needed while minimizing thermal bridge formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure combines metallized polymer layers for thermal reflection with polymer foam for structural support and thermal break. The polymer foam acts as a thermal bridge breaker at panel edges, while the metallized layers provide radiation reflection at critical surfaces. This composite approach addresses both the thermal reflection benefit and thermal bridge harm.
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 configuration reduces energy losses by optimizing the placement of insulation materials, decreasing the diameter of the encasement pipe, and increasing the service life of the vacuum insulation panels, while allowing for easier and faster pipe installation and reduced thermal conductivity at thermal bridges.
Implementation Method 1
at least one vacuum insulation panel comprising a porous core material and a multi-layer envelope encasing said porous core material
Implementation Method 2
at least at the portion of said multi-layer envelope located at said four side faces any layer comprising a metal material is at least one metallized polymer layer
Implementation Method 3
a polymer foam filling the space between said vacuum insulation panel and said encasement pipe
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
The present invention relates to an insulated pipe comprising an encasement pipe and a first inner pipe arranged inside said encasement pipe, at least one vacuum insulation panel comprising a porous core material and a multi-layer envelope encasing said porous core material, wherein said multi-layer envelope comprises at least one layer comprising a metal material, wherein said at least one vacuum insulation panel is arranged around the circumference of said first inner pipe, wherein said at least one vacuum insulation panel comprises an inward-facing side facing towards a longitudinal axis of said first inner pipe, an outward-facing side facing the opposite direction, and four side faces arranged between said inward-facing side and said outward-facing side, and said insulated pipe further comprising a polymer foam filling the space between said vacuum insulation panel and said encasement pipe, wherein at least at the portion of said multi-layer envelope located at said four side faces any layer comprising a metal material is at least one metallized polymer layer.