Vacuum insulating material and refrigerator including same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum insulating materials face challenges in preventing gas and moisture penetration while maintaining durability and heat insulation efficiency, leading to limitations in refrigerator design and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum insulating material with a hybrid envelope structure, comprising a first envelope with lower thermal conductivity and a second envelope with higher thermal conductivity, bonded together with a blocking layer to form an integral unit, which effectively prevents gas and moisture penetration and enhances durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single-envelope vacuum insulating material is used, then the structure is simple, but gas and moisture penetration occurs reducing durability
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum insulating material is divided into multiple envelopes (first envelope and second envelope) with different thermal conductivities. The first envelope has lower thermal conductivity than the second envelope, creating a segmented structure that prevents gas and moisture penetration while maintaining simplicity in manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite envelope structures where the first envelope and second envelope are bonded together to form an integral unit. This composite structure combines materials with different thermal conductivities to achieve both durability against gas/moisture penetration and controlled heat transfer characteristics
2Volume of moving object
If conventional heat insulating material like polyurethane is used, then the insulating performance is adequate, but the refrigerator wall thickness increases reducing storage capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum insulating material uses thin envelope structures that maintain superior heat insulating performance. The first envelope with lower thermal conductivity provides effective heat barrier in a thin profile, enabling slim refrigerator design while maximizing internal storage capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal conductivity parameter by using envelopes with different thermal conductivity values. The first envelope has lower thermal conductivity than the second envelope, optimizing the heat transfer characteristics to reduce heat loss while maintaining compact thickness
3Loss of energy
If the first envelope and second envelope are not bonded, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but heat bridge occurs reducing insulating efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The first envelope and second envelope are bonded together to form an integral unit, merging the two separate envelope structures. This bonding eliminates heat bridge pathways that would occur at the interface, ensuring continuous thermal insulation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through direct bonding processes
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 improves the durability and heat insulation efficiency of the vacuum insulating material, allowing for a slim refrigerator design with increased storage capacity and reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the first envelope and the second envelope are bonded to each other by welding or adhesion
Implementation Method 2
the first envelope and the second envelope are bonded to each other by welding or adhesion
Implementation Method 3
a core material; a first envelope disposed at an outer side of the core material
Implementation Method 4
a blocking layer disposed between the core material and the first envelope and bonded to the first envelope
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are a vacuum insulating material having an improved structure as to enhance insulation and durability and a refrigerator having the same. The vacuum insulating material includes a core material, a first envelope disposed at an outer side of the core material, a blocking layer disposed between the core material and the first envelope, and a second envelope coupling to the first envelope to form an accommodating space in which the core material and the blocking layer are accommodated, wherein the blocking layer is welded or adhered to the first envelope to form an integral unit with the first envelope.