Vacuum Insulating Glazing With Intumescent Fire Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire resistant glazings face issues with poor thermal performance, sensitivity to low and high temperatures, and increased thickness and weight when integrated into double glazing systems, particularly due to the use of hydrated alkali metal silicates and standard double glazing spacers.
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 containing a layer of intumescent material protected by a peripheral spacer, where the intumescent material is prepared using a silicate-based mixture with controlled water content and additives to enhance stability and adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fire resistant glazing is constructed with multiple glass panes and layers of intumescent material to meet fire resistance specifications, then fire resistance performance is improved, but weight and thickness become high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the intumescent material from a thick solid layer to a vacuum environment. By creating a vacuum between glass panes, the system achieves fire resistance without the weight and thickness penalties of traditional intumescent layers, as the vacuum prevents combustion while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the harmful function of thick intumescent material layers by replacing them with a vacuum. The vacuum removes the need for bulky fire-resistant layers while maintaining the essential fire protection function, thereby reducing both weight and thickness of the overall glazing assembly.
2Reliability
If intumescent layers with high water content are used to achieve fire resistance, then fire protection is improved, but resistance to low and high temperatures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inert environment principle by creating a vacuum between the glass panes. This vacuum environment is chemically inert and does not support combustion, providing fire protection without the temperature sensitivity issues associated with water-based intumescent materials. The vacuum remains stable across a wide temperature range.
3Loss of energy
If double glazing system is used to increase thermal performance, then thermal insulation is improved, but total thickness and weight increase further
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the thermal insulation function with the fire resistance function into a single vacuum-based system. Instead of stacking separate double glazing units and fire-resistant layers, the vacuum simultaneously provides both thermal insulation and fire protection, reducing overall thickness while maintaining or improving both performance aspects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the medium between glass panes from air (in conventional double glazing) to vacuum. This parameter change dramatically improves thermal insulation performance because vacuum eliminates conductive and convective heat transfer, achieving superior thermal performance without increasing thickness.
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, resistance to temperature extremes, reduced weight and thickness, and improved optical stability, allowing for broader geographical use and cost savings while maintaining 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
a hermetically bonding seal sealing the distance between the first and second glass panes over a perimeter thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A fire resistant vacuum insulating glazing assembly with at least one vacuum insulating glazing unit having first and second glass panes; a set of discrete pillars between the glass panes; a hermetically bonding seal sealing the distance between the glass panes; an internal volume defined by the glass panes and closed by the hermetically bonding seal, wherein there is a vacuum of absolute pressure of less than 0.1 mbar. The inner pane faces face the internal volume, and the glazing assembly further includes at least one intumescent unit having a layer of intumescent material, an intumescent unit glass pane, and an intumescent unit peripheral spacer. The intumescent unit glass pane and the intumescent unit peripheral spacer define an intumescent unit volume, and the layer of intumescent material and the intumescent unit peripheral spacer face one of the outer pane faces of the first or second glass panes.