Vacuum-Insulated Thermal Frame for Refrigerated Enclosures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional frames for refrigerated enclosures are either structurally unreliable due to poor thermal insulation or lack structural integrity, making them inefficient in maintaining low temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A thermal frame with a vacuum panel that includes a first surface, a second surface offset from the first, and an evacuated chamber between them, providing improved thermal insulation by reducing heat transfer through the frame, with thermal resistance between 25hr·ft2·°F.BTU and 100hr·ft2·°F.BTU per inch of thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional metal frames are used for structural reliability, then structural integrity is improved, but thermal insulation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The frame assembly combines metal frame segments providing structural integrity with vacuum panels providing thermal insulation. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by integrating materials with complementary properties - the metal frame maintains strength while the vacuum panel prevents heat transfer.
2Loss of energy
If insulating foam or plastic frames are used for thermal insulation, then thermal insulation is improved, but structural integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The frame assembly uses a composite design where metal frame segments provide the necessary structural strength and vacuum panels provide the thermal insulation function. This separates the structural and insulating functions into different components, resolving the contradiction between strength and insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame is divided into separate components: metal frame segments for structural support and vacuum panels for insulation. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional frames are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but thermal performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum panels are pre-manufactured with their evacuated chambers before being integrated into the frame assembly. This preliminary preparation simplifies the final assembly process while achieving superior thermal performance that would be difficult to obtain through traditional manufacturing methods.
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 thermal frame effectively reduces heat transfer, enhancing the insulation capabilities of refrigerated enclosures and maintaining low temperatures more efficiently than traditional frames.
Implementation Method 1
The vacuum panel includes a first surface disposed rearward of the second wall, a second surface disposed rearward of the first surface and offset from the first surface by a thickness, and an evacuated chamber between the first and second surfaces
Implementation Method 2
The vacuum panel may be configured to reduce heat transfer through the perimeter frame segment
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal frame for an opening in a refrigerated enclosure includes a perimeter frame segment fixed to the refrigerated enclosure along a perimeter of the opening. The thermal frame includes a first vacuum panel fixed relative to the perimeter frame segment and configured to reduce heat transfer through the perimeter frame segment. The thermal frame may include a mullion frame segment fixed to the refrigerated enclosure and dividing the opening into a plurality of smaller openings. The thermal frame may include a second vacuum panel fixed relative to the mullion frame segment and configured to reduce heat transfer through the mullion frame segment.