Thermal vacuum insulating element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum insulation panels are energy-intensive and expensive to produce, and they are sensitive to damage, requiring undamaged plastic film to maintain the vacuum, which limits their robustness and recyclability.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum insulation panel design featuring flat delimiting parts with projecting support elements connected by a low-thermal-conductivity fiber structure that absorbs pressure and force, minimizing heat transfer through the fiber structure and edge seals, and using metal-coated fiber laminate or stainless steel for the delimiting parts to enhance mechanical resistance and recyclability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional support cores made of powdered insulating material or glass fiber mats are used, then thermal insulation performance is achieved, but production energy consumption and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the support core component entirely, replacing it with a membrane structure that provides both mechanical support and thermal insulation functions through the vacuum itself, thereby removing the energy-intensive production process of traditional support cores
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the vacuum seal, provides mechanical structural support, and contributes to thermal insulation, eliminating the need for separate support core components and reducing overall production complexity and energy consumption
2Reliability
If plastic film is used to encase the support core to maintain vacuum, then vacuum integrity is achieved, but the panel becomes sensitive to damage and less robust
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a membrane (flexible shell) that is reinforced and integrated into the overall structure, providing both vacuum sealing and enhanced mechanical robustness through its structural integration and material properties
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is merged with the structural elements of the panel, creating an integrated structure where the vacuum seal and mechanical support functions are combined, thereby enhancing overall robustness while maintaining vacuum integrity
3Reliability
If edge seals are used to seal the vacuum space, then vacuum containment is achieved, but heat transfer through edges becomes a limiting factor for thermal insulation
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane acts as an intermediary element that provides both the vacuum seal and serves as a thermal barrier at the edges, mediating between the vacuum containment requirement and the thermal insulation performance
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is constructed from composite materials or multi-layer structures that provide both sealing functionality and low thermal conductivity, thereby addressing both vacuum containment and edge heat transfer issues simultaneously
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 design reduces production energy and costs, increases robustness, and achieves high thermal insulation with minimal heat transfer (10^-5 W/mK), while being fully recyclable and resistant to thermal bridges.
Implementation Method 1
The fiber structure (22) is designed to absorb at least the pressure generated by the vacuum on the first delimiting part (12) and the second delimiting part (14)
Implementation Method 2
The high level of insulation that can be achieved with thermal vacuum insulation elements is due to the lack of thermal conductivity in vacuum. Without particles, no heat transport can take place.
Implementation Method 3
Heat conduction from the first delimiting part (12) to the second delimiting part (14) can only take place via the fiber structure (22), the means (26) for sealing edge regions (26) and the vacuumed space (16)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Thermal vacuum insulation element (10) comprising a first planar boundary element (12) and a second planar boundary element (14). The boundary elements are spaced apart from each other and define a vacuum-sealed space (16) between them. The vacuum-sealed space (16) is sealed by means (26). The vacuum insulation element comprises first support elements (18) extending from the first boundary element (12) into the vacuum-sealed space (16) and second support elements (20) extending from the second boundary element (14) into the vacuum-sealed space (16), wherein the boundary elements (12, 14) and the support elements (18, 20) are arranged such that the first support elements (18) and the second support elements (20) project past each other and are spaced apart from each other. The first support elements (18) are spaced apart from the second boundary part (14), and the second support elements (20) are spaced apart from the first boundary part (12).A fibrous structure (22) connects the first support elements (18) and the second support elements (20). The fibrous structure (22) has low thermal conductivity and is designed to absorb at least the pressure generated by the vacuum on the first and second boundary parts (12, 14).