Vacuum Fire-Resistant Glazing Without Peripheral Spacer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire resistant glazings face issues with increased thickness, weight, and poor thermal performance when integrated into double glazing systems, and are sensitive to humidity, leading to deterioration of intumescent material edges and altered optical properties.
Innovation Solution
A fire resistant vacuum insulating glazing assembly comprising a vacuum insulating glazing unit with discrete pillars and a hermetically sealed internal volume, combined with an intumescent unit lacking a peripheral spacer, where the intumescent material is applied via a drying process directly on a glass pane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If fire resistant glazing is integrated into a double glazing system to improve thermal performance, then thermal insulation is improved, but total thickness and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vacuum phase (removing gas molecules) in the spacer region to achieve thermal insulation. By creating a vacuum or near-vacuum environment between the glass panes, heat transfer through conduction and convection is eliminated, providing superior thermal performance without the need for thick insulating layers or heavy materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the gas (air) from the spacer region between the glass panes to create a vacuum environment. This removal of the heat-transfer medium (air molecules) eliminates thermal conduction and convection pathways, achieving excellent thermal insulation while maintaining a compact, lightweight structure.
2Loss of energy
If fire resistant glazing is integrated into a double glazing system to improve thermal performance, then thermal insulation is improved, but handling and framing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum phase creates a lightweight yet rigid structure that is easier to handle and install compared to traditional double glazing with thick insulating layers. The vacuum spacer design reduces overall weight while maintaining structural integrity, improving ease of handling and framing.
3Ease of manufacture
If common double glazing peripheral spacers are used in fire resistant applications, then ease of manufacture is improved, but thermal sealing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces solid spacer material with a vacuum phase, eliminating the need for peripheral spacers entirely. This vacuum-based approach provides superior thermal sealing by completely removing the heat transfer pathway through the spacer, while the manufacturing process is simplified to involve vacuum creation and sealing rather than spacer installation.
4Reliability
If hydrated alkali metal silicates are used as intumescent material to achieve fire resistance, then fire resistance is improved, but sensitivity to humidity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or removes the harmful factor (humidity/water) from contacting the intumescent material by using a vacuum spacer that creates a hermetic seal. This isolation prevents moisture absorption that would otherwise degrade the hydrated alkali metal silicates, maintaining both fire resistance and optical clarity over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum acts as an intermediary barrier between the intumescent material and the external environment, preventing direct contact with humid air. This vacuum mediation protects the hygroscopic intumescent material from moisture while allowing the material to maintain its fire-resistant properties.
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 assembly achieves superior thermal performance, reduced weight and thickness, and improved durability, while avoiding the drawbacks of double glazing systems and protecting the intumescent material from water contact, resulting in cost savings and enhanced fire resistance.
Implementation Method 1
an internal volume, V, defined by the first and second glass panes and closed by the hermetically bonding seal; wherein there is a vacuum of absolute pressure of less than 0.1 mbar
Implementation Method 2
achieves superior thermal performance
Implementation Method 3
a hermetically bonding seal sealing the distance between the first and second glass panes over a perimeter thereof
Implementation Method 4
a set of discrete pillars positioned between the first and second glass panes, maintaining a distance between the first and the second glass panes
Implementation Method 5
The intumescent materials under the effect of heat, expand by forming a foam opaque to radiation, that keeps the glass walls in position even when the latter are fragmented under the effect of heat
Implementation Method 6
the layer of intumescent material is obtained by applying solutions of these silicates over a glass pane and by carrying out a more or less prolonged drying step until a solid layer is obtained
Data Source
AI summary
A fire resistant vacuum insulating glazing assembly includes at least one vacuum insulating glazing unit that has a first glass pane, GP1, which includes an inner pane face and an outer pane face and a second glass pane, GP2, which includes an inner pane face and an outer pane face. A set of discrete pillars is positioned between the first and second glass panes and maintains a distance between the first and the second glass panes. A hermetically bonding seal seals the distance between the first and second glass panes over a perimeter. An internal volume, V, is defined by the first and second glass panes and is closed by the hermetically bonding seal. There is a vacuum of absolute pressure of less than 0.1 mbar and the inner pane faces face the internal volume, V.