Vacuum Insulation Component with Activated Gas Pressure Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional insulation materials suffer from high heat losses due to atmospheric pressure in their pore spaces, leading to inefficient energy transfer and increased costs, especially in district heating, building insulation, and industrial applications, where they are inflexible and expensive, limiting their use in complex geometries and long-distance heat transport.

Innovation Solution

A component for vacuum insulation systems featuring a gas pressure reduction mechanism that can be activated, allowing for the creation of a vacuum within the insulation layer without the need for mechanical pumps, using substances that absorb, adsorb, or chemically react with gases to reduce pressure, enabling flexible and cost-effective insulation solutions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional vacuum insulation systems are used, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but investment costs and manufacturing complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat lossVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insulation system uses the transported cold medium itself to generate and maintain the vacuum in the insulation layer, eliminating the need for external vacuum pumps and complex vacuum generation equipment. The cold medium's temperature causes phase change of the volatile substance, creating vacuum automatically during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes phase transition of a volatile substance (from liquid to gas) driven by the cold medium's temperature to generate vacuum. The volatile substance evaporates when exposed to the cold medium, displacing air and creating vacuum conditions in the insulation layer without mechanical pumping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

2Loss of energy

If conventional vacuum insulation systems are used, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but flexibility and adaptability to complex geometries deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat lossVSAvoidgeometric flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a flexible membrane to enclose the insulation layer containing the volatile substance. This membrane can be easily shaped and adapted to complex geometries of pipes, vessels, or structures, allowing the vacuum insulation to conform to any form while maintaining its insulating performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The volatile substance is pre-loaded into the insulation layer during manufacturing, ready to generate vacuum automatically when exposed to the cold medium during installation and operation, eliminating the need for post-installation vacuum pumping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If mechanical pumping is used to create vacuum, then vacuum insulation performance is achieved, but production time and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal insulation effectVSAvoidpumping time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system eliminates the need for external vacuum pumps by using the cold medium's own temperature to drive phase change of the volatile substance, which automatically generates and maintains the vacuum during normal operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The volatile substance undergoes phase transition from liquid to gas when exposed to the cold medium's low temperature, creating vacuum conditions automatically without requiring mechanical pumping or prolonged evacuation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

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 approach provides a robust, flexible, and cost-effective insulation system with reduced thermal conductivity, suitable for complex geometries and long-distance heat transport, reducing energy losses and installation costs while maintaining safety and ease of use.

Implementation Method 1

the gas pressure which exists in the insulation layer can be reduced by means provided in the component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the gas pressure which exists in the insulation layer can be reduced by means provided in the component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

at least one insulation layer which is surrounded by a shell... excellent insulating effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP2297507B1Component for producing vacuum insulation systems
Publication Date: 2016.11.16 EVONIK OPERATIONS GMBH

AI summary

The present invention relates to a component for producing vacuum insulation systems, comprising at least one insulation layer which is surrounded by a jacket, wherein the gas pressure prevailing in the insulation layer can be reduced by a means which is provided in the component, wherein the means for reducing the gas pressure is designed so as to be activatable. The present invention also describes a vacuum insulation system comprising a component according to the invention.