Vacuum adiabatic body
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator designs face challenges in achieving a sufficient adiabatic effect due to difficulties in maintaining a stable vacuum state and preventing heat transfer at temperature contact points between external and internal cases, which limits their application to general household refrigerators.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a vacuum adiabatic body with a supporting unit made from materials like polycarbonate (PC) and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) that maintain a low outgassing rate and high compressive strength, combined with conductive resistance sheets and a porous material to reduce heat transfer, ensures a stable vacuum and enhanced adiabatic performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If a vacuum adiabatic body is applied to increase internal volume, then the internal volume of the refrigerator is increased, but it is difficult to maintain a stable vacuum state and prevent heat transfer at contact portions
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum adiabatic body is divided into multiple vacuum chambers separated by partition walls. Each chamber can be independently vacuumized and sealed, allowing the system to maintain vacuum stability in each segment while achieving overall large internal volume. The partition walls with vacuum sealing structures enable independent vacuum maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
A vacuum sealing structure acts as an intermediary element between the external case and internal case at contact portions. This sealing structure prevents direct thermal conduction while maintaining vacuum isolation, effectively blocking heat transfer paths at temperature contact points between the cases.
2Loss of energy
If the walls are provided to be in a sufficient vacuum state to improve adiabatic effect, then heat transfer is reduced, but it is difficult to prevent deformation of the cases due to sound pressure
Solution Approach 1:
Support structures are positioned within the vacuum chamber to counterbalance the atmospheric pressure acting on the internal case. These support structures provide mechanical reinforcement that prevents case deformation while maintaining the vacuum state, effectively counterweighting the pressure load.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum adiabatic body employs composite construction with the internal case, support structures, and vacuum sealing components working together. The combination of materials and structures provides both the necessary vacuum integrity for heat isolation and the mechanical strength to resist atmospheric pressure without deformation.
3Loss of energy
If a vacuum adiabatic panel is prepared and built in walls with separate molding, then adiabatic performance is improved, but fabrication cost is increased and fabrication method is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum adiabatic body integrates multiple functions into a single unified structure. The internal case, vacuum chamber, support structures, and adiabatic walls are combined into one integrated component that can be manufactured as a single unit, simplifying the fabrication process while maintaining excellent adiabatic performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum adiabatic body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, creates vacuum isolation, prevents heat transfer, and maintains case alignment. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components and assembly steps, reducing fabrication complexity and cost.
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 solution allows for a long-term maintenance of a low vacuum degree, reducing heat transfer and deformation, thereby improving the adiabatic effect and increasing the effective volume of refrigerators while reducing fabrication costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum space part (50) which is in a vacuum state
Implementation Method 2
a conductive resistance sheet (60) which prevents heat conduction between two different kinds of plate members
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(c)
AI summary
A vacuum adiabatic body includes: a first plate member defining at least one portion of a wall for a first space; a second plate member defining at least one portion of a wall for a second space having a different temperature from the first space; a sealing part sealing the first plate member and the second plate member to provide a third space that has a temperature between the temperature of the first space and the temperature of the second space and is in a vacuum state; a supporting unit maintaining the third space; a heat resistance unit at least including a conductive resistance sheet capable of resisting heat conduction flowing along a wall for the third space to decrease a heat transfer amount between the first plate member and the second plate member; and an exhaust port through which a gas in the third space is exhausted, wherein the supporting unit includes at least two bars supporting the first plate member and the second plate member, the bar includes a material having a lower emissivity than each of the first and second plate members, and the bar is fabricated using at least one material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate (PC), glass fiber PC, low outgassing PC, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and liquid crystal polymer (LCP).