Vacuum Insulation Body with Adsorbent-Integrated Evacuation Nozzle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum insulation bodies are sensitive to gas pressure increases, particularly due to water permeation, which enhances thermal conductivity and reduces insulation effectiveness, and existing evacuation methods are inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an adsorbent material, such as zeolites, arranged in the evacuation nozzle area to act as a flow distributor and getter, forming a pebble bed within a gas-permeable pouch, which enhances the evacuation cross-section and facilitates efficient gas removal by minimizing flow path length and pressure-dependent flow resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If gas permeation prevention materials are added to the vacuum area, then thermal insulation effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal insulation effectivenessVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adsorbent material serves dual functions: it acts as a getter to maintain vacuum by adsorbing residual gases, and simultaneously functions as a flow distributor to enhance gas removal efficiency during evacuation. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by improving thermal insulation effectiveness without adding separate components, thus avoiding increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the adsorbent material with the flow distributor function by positioning it strategically in the vacuum area near the evacuation nozzle. This merging of functions allows the same material to both adsorb gases and distribute flow, improving insulation effectiveness while avoiding the need for additional separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If evacuation is performed through a single nozzle, then device complexity is reduced, but evacuation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidevacuation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The adsorbent material is positioned in specific locations within the vacuum area, particularly near the evacuation nozzle, to create localized zones of enhanced gas adsorption. This local quality enhancement improves evacuation efficiency without requiring multiple nozzles or complex evacuation systems, thus maintaining simple device architecture while boosting productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The adsorbent material acts as an intermediary that facilitates gas removal by adsorbing gas molecules and presenting them to the evacuation nozzle. This intermediary function enhances evacuation efficiency without requiring additional evacuation nozzles or complex equipment, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and evacuation productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If adsorbent material is placed throughout the vacuum area, then gas pressure control is improved, but evacuation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas pressure controlVSAvoidevacuation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of distributing adsorbent material throughout the entire vacuum area, the patent positions it locally near the evacuation nozzle where gas pressure is lowest and gas flow is most concentrated. This localized positioning maintains effective gas pressure control while minimizing the distance gas molecules must travel to reach adsorbent material, thereby reducing evacuation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The adsorbent material is pre-positioned in strategic locations within the vacuum area before evacuation begins. This preliminary placement ensures that gas molecules are immediately adsorbed upon reaching the vacuum area, maintaining effective gas pressure control without requiring extended evacuation times for material distribution or activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This configuration allows for rapid and efficient evacuation, maintaining low gas pressure within the vacuum area, even after the nozzle is closed, by effectively increasing the evacuation cross-section and utilizing the adsorbent material's desorption capabilities, thus maintaining insulation effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

A material which adsorbs gases, in particular water and/or nitrogen and/or oxygen, is arranged partially or in its entirety in the region of the named evacuation socket

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

materials are known which keep the partial pressure of oxygen and nitrogen low by chemisorption

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemisorption: Chemisorption

Implementation Method 3

If the adsorbing material is heated by the heating device during the evacuation process, this leads to a shift in the sorption equilibrium in the direction of desorption

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDesorption: Desorption

Implementation Method 4

heating device (50), or the vacuum insulating body is at least partially connected to it

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 5

the flow distributor being designed as a pebble bed, which is located in located in a gas permeable pouch or receiving area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow distribution:

Data Source

PatentEP3027953B1Vacuum insulation body
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 LIEBHERR HAUSGERATE LIENZ GMBH
  • EP3027953B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a vacuum insulation body comprising at least one vacuum-sealed sheath and at least one vacuum region surrounded by said sheath. The sheath is provided with at least one opening, in particular with at least one evacuation connection for evacuating the vacuum region and at least one adsorbent material is located in the vacuum insulation body. According to the invention, the adsorbent material is partially or completely located in the region of said opening.