Thermal vacuum insulation element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vacuum insulation panels are energy-intensive and expensive to produce, sensitive to damage, and not recyclable, limiting their efficiency and practicality in applications requiring high thermal insulation.
Innovation Solution
A thermal vacuum insulation element design featuring undulating or corrugated support elements connected by a low-thermal-conductivity fiber structure, with metal or metal-coated limiting parts and a diffusion-tight sealing foil, minimizing heat transfer and enhancing mechanical stability and recyclability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If conventional vacuum insulation panels use powdered insulating material or glass fiber nonwovens as support core, then thermal insulation is achieved, but production becomes energy-intensive and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter from conventional powdered insulating material or glass fiber nonwovens to a textile fabric structure. This parameter change reduces production energy requirements while maintaining vacuum stability through the fabric's mechanical properties and structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining textile fabric with metallized plastic film layers. The textile fabric provides mechanical support and stability, while the metallized plastic film ensures vacuum stability and thermal insulation, creating a composite material system that resolves the contradiction between production energy and vacuum stability.
2Reliability
If conventional vacuum insulation panels use plastic film wrapping, then vacuum is maintained, but the panels become sensitive to damage and less robust
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses metallized plastic film as a flexible sealing layer that maintains vacuum while being integrated with a more robust textile fabric structure. The film provides the necessary barrier properties for vacuum maintenance while the textile substrate enhances mechanical robustness.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure of textile fabric combined with metallized plastic film creates a system where the film maintains vacuum and the textile provides mechanical strength, resolving the contradiction between vacuum maintenance and mechanical robustness.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If conventional vacuum insulation panels use traditional support core materials, then thermal insulation is provided, but the panels are not recyclable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the support core material from conventional non-recyclable materials to textile fabric, which is more easily recyclable. This parameter change maintains thermal insulation performance while improving ease of manufacture and recyclability.
Solution Approach 2:
The textile fabric-based support core enables easier recovery and recycling of materials at the end of the product lifecycle. The textile structure can be more easily separated, processed, and reused compared to conventional powdered or nonwoven materials, improving overall recyclability.
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 design reduces production energy and costs, increases robustness, and achieves high thermal insulation efficiency with minimal heat transfer (10−5 W/mK), while being fully recyclable and resistant to thermal bridges.
Implementation Method 1
The high achievable insulation effect of thermal vacuum insulation elements is due to the lack of thermal conductivity of vacuum. Without particles, no heat transport can take place.
Implementation Method 2
The fiber structure 22 is configured to at least absorb pressure caused by the vacuum on the first limiting part 12 and the second limiting part 14.
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal vacuum insulation element (10) comprising a first planar limiting part (12) and a second planar limiting part (14). The limiting parts are spaced apart from each other and define an evacuated space (16) between them. The evacuated space (16) is sealed by means (26) for sealing. The vacuum insulation element includes first support elements (18) extending away from the first limiting part (12) into the evacuated space (16) and second support elements (20) extending away from the second limiting part (14) into the evacuated space (16), the limiting parts (12, 14) being arranged with the support elements (18, 20) such that the first support elements (18) and the second support elements (20) protrude beyond and are spaced from each other. The first support elements (18) are spaced from the second limiting part (14), and the second support elements (20) are spaced from the first limiting part (12). A fiber structure (22) interconnects the first support elements (18) and the second support elements (20). The fiber structure (22) has a low thermal conductivity and is configured to absorb at least the pressure caused by the vacuum on the first and second limiting parts (12, 14).