Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulation Element for Wide Temperature Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum insulation panels face challenges with temperature stability, as the plastic film used for wrapping can degrade at high temperatures and is difficult to produce effectively at low temperatures, leading to loss of vacuum tightness and complex production processes.
Innovation Solution
A temperature-stable vacuum insulation element comprising a fumed silica core material with a weight proportion of 30% to 90%, a fibrous material of 1% to 10%, and an opacifying agent of 5% to 50%, covered with a vacuum-tight stainless steel foil, allowing for stable operation over a wide temperature range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a plastic film is used for the vacuum-tight enclosure, then the production process is simple, but the temperature stability deteriorates at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the vacuum-tight enclosure from plastic film to stainless steel foil. This parameter change enables the enclosure to maintain its mechanical properties and vacuum tightness across a wide temperature range from -196°C to +873°C, resolving the temperature stability issue while keeping the production process relatively simple through welding or clamping connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining stainless steel foil with a core material layer. This composite construction provides both the vacuum tightness and thermal stability required for high-temperature applications, while the modular design allows for straightforward manufacturing and assembly processes.
2Ease of manufacture
If a plastic film is used for the vacuum-tight enclosure, then the production cost is low, but the vacuum tightness is lost at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from plastic film to stainless steel foil, which maintains its structural integrity and vacuum sealing capability at high temperatures up to 873°C. The stainless steel foil's high melting point and structural stability ensure sustained vacuum tightness in extreme thermal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
While stainless steel foil has a higher initial cost than plastic film, the patent addresses this by creating a durable, long-lasting vacuum insulation element that maintains its vacuum tightness throughout its service life at high temperatures, eliminating the need for replacement due to thermal degradation.
3Reliability
If a fiber material is used in the core, then the insulating properties are improved, but the production complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a homogeneous fibrous core material layer that is uniformly distributed between the stainless steel foil layers. This homogeneous structure provides consistent insulating properties throughout the element while simplifying the production process, as the fibrous material can be directly placed and compressed without complex assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a porous fibrous core material that provides excellent thermal insulation through its trapped air pockets. The porous structure naturally forms during material placement and compression, achieving superior insulating properties without requiring additional complex production steps or structures.
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 provides a simple and effective method for producing a temperature-stable vacuum insulation element that maintains vacuum tightness and insulating properties across a broad temperature range, from 0.1 K to 873 K, using a binder-free fiber material and opacifying agents to reduce heat transfer through infrared radiation.
Implementation Method 1
The encasement is evacuated, and the vacuum insulation panel exhibits excellent insulating properties compared to other insulation panel materials due to the vacuum created within it
Implementation Method 2
Fumed silica is particularly suitable as a core material for vacuum insulation elements because, when combined with a vacuum-tight enclosure, it is easily evacuated. The microporous structure of the fumed silica contributes to this good evacuation
Implementation Method 3
The weight fraction of the opacifier can be used to adjust the heat transfer by infrared radiation
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Temperature-stable vacuum insulation element 1 for use over a wide temperature range of high or low temperatures comprising: - a core material 2 of pyrogenic silica in a weight fraction in the range of 30% to 90%; - a fiber material 3 in a weight fraction in the range of 1% to 10%; - an opacifier in a weight fraction in the range of 5% to 50%; and - a vacuum-tight covering of the core material 2 made of at least one stainless steel foil 4a, 4b.