Vacuum adiabatic body
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum adiabatic technologies for refrigerators face challenges in achieving a sufficient adiabatic effect, maintaining a stable vacuum state, and preventing deformation due to sound pressure, limiting their application to general household refrigerating apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum adiabatic body comprising a first and second plate member separated by a vacuum space with a supporting unit and heat resistance sheets, where the supporting unit includes bars made from materials like polycarbonate, polyphenylene sulfide, and liquid crystal polymer, and a conductive resistance sheet to reduce heat transfer, and an exhaust port to maintain the vacuum state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a vacuum adiabatic body is applied to increase the internal volume of a refrigerator, then the internal volume is increased, but it is difficult to maintain a stable vacuum state and prevent heat transfer at contact portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible gasket (sealing member) to seal between the inner and outer cases, creating a vacuum space that maintains vacuum stability while allowing for thermal expansion and contraction. The gasket compensates for dimensional changes and prevents vacuum leakage, solving the reliability issue while maintaining the volume benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate vacuum space between the inner and outer cases, separated by a sealing member. This intermediary vacuum layer acts as a thermal barrier while the support members prevent direct contact between the cases, eliminating heat transfer paths while maintaining vacuum integrity.
2Loss of energy
If the walls of a refrigerator are provided to be in a vacuum state, then adiabatic effect is improved, but deformation of the cases occurs due to sound pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the refrigerator structure into an inner case, an outer case, and an intermediate vacuum space between them. This segmentation allows the vacuum space to provide adiabatic effect while the separate cases with support members prevent deformation from atmospheric pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members act as counterweights to the atmospheric pressure acting on the inner case. These support structures provide mechanical strength to resist the pressure differential across the vacuum space, preventing case deformation while maintaining the vacuum adiabatic effect.
3Loss of energy
If a foam urethane adiabatic wall with thickness of about 30 cm or more is provided, then adiabatic performance is improved, but the internal volume of the refrigerator is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition concept by creating a vacuum (absence of gas phase) in the intermediate space between inner and outer cases. This vacuum layer provides superior adiabatic performance compared to foam materials, achieving the same thermal insulation effect with minimal space consumption, thus maximizing internal volume.
4Device complexity
If additional foaming is not required and adiabatic performance is improved, then fabrication complexity is reduced, but fabrication cost is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum space serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides adiabatic insulation, supports structural integrity through the support members, and eliminates the need for separate foam filling processes. This multi-functionality reduces fabrication complexity while the modular design allows for cost-effective manufacturing.
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 a sufficient adiabatic effect and maintains a low vacuum degree for an extended period, enhancing the energy efficiency and effective volume of refrigerators while reducing fabrication costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum space part provided between the first plate member and the second plate member
Implementation Method 2
suppressing heat transfer by vacuumizing the interior of a body thereof
Implementation Method 3
a supporting unit provided inside the vacuum space part
Implementation Method 4
a heat resistance unit at least including a conductive resistance sheet capable of resisting heat conduction flowing along a wall for the third space
Implementation Method 5
the bar includes a material having a lower emissivity than each of the first and second 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).