Insulated cabinet
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum insulation panels in insulated cabinets deteriorate when liquids spill and come into contact, leading to gas infiltration and reduced insulation performance due to delamination and gas barrier property degradation.
Innovation Solution
The insulated cabinet design incorporates a sealing system with adhesive tapes and foam insulations to prevent liquid invasion at the sealed parts of the vacuum insulation panels, using multi-layer films with PET and nylon layers for enhanced durability and gas barrier properties, and strategically placing foam and adhesive agents to limit fluid pathways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a vacuum insulation panel is used to reduce insulation wall thickness and increase storage capacity, then the insulation performance is improved, but the enclosure deteriorates when liquid spills and contacts the panel, leading to gas infiltration and reduced durability
Solution Approach 1:
A liquid repellent layer is introduced as an intermediary between the liquid environment and the enclosure of the vacuum insulation panel. This layer has low liquid affinity and repels liquid, preventing direct contact between liquid and the enclosure, thereby eliminating the deterioration pathway while maintaining the vacuum insulation panel's high insulation performance and storage capacity benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid repellent layer is applied as a surface treatment that can be easily applied and potentially replaced if needed. This layer acts as a sacrificial protective element that prevents liquid damage to the expensive vacuum insulation panel enclosure, allowing the system to maintain reliability without significantly increasing cost or complexity
2Length of moving object
If the enclosure is made thin to maintain a compact vacuum insulation panel, then the insulation performance is improved, but the enclosure becomes more susceptible to liquid deterioration and gas infiltration
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid repellent layer serves as a protective intermediary that shields the thin enclosure from liquid contact. This allows the enclosure to remain thin for compact panel design and high insulation performance while the repellent layer prevents liquid infiltration and deterioration, effectively decoupling the thickness parameter from susceptibility to harmful factors
3Strength
If adhesive agents are applied to secure the vacuum insulation panel, then the panel is firmly fixed, but liquid can penetrate through the adhesive agent and reach the enclosure
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid repellent layer is applied over the adhesive agent to create a protective barrier. This intermediary layer prevents liquid from penetrating through the adhesive agent and reaching the enclosure, while the adhesive agent maintains its function of firmly fixing the vacuum insulation panel to the cabinet structure
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid repellent layer is applied as a thin film or coating that conforms to the surface of the adhesive agent and panel. This flexible thin film provides continuous liquid protection while allowing the underlying adhesive bond to maintain strong mechanical fixation of the panel
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 design effectively prevents deterioration of the vacuum insulation panels, maintaining high insulation performance by reducing gas infiltration and enhancing the durability of the enclosure, even when exposed to various liquids.
Implementation Method 1
an interior of the enclosure is maintained in the evacuated state
Implementation Method 2
an adhesive agent is applied to an entire surface of the vacuum insulation panel or to a peripheral edge portion of the vacuum insulation panel
Implementation Method 3
a foam insulation filling a remaining space excluding the space occupied by the vacuum insulation material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An insulated cabinet includes an outer plate, an inner plate, a vacuum insulation panel and a limiting member. The outer plate constitutes an outer box. The inner plate constitutes an inner box disposed inside the outer box and forming a storage compartment surrounded by the inner box. The vacuum insulation panel is interposed between the outer plate and the inner plate and formed by decompressing an interior of an enclosure with a core material being enclosed in the enclosure and by sealing an open end of the enclosure. The limiting member which limits invasion of a fluid from the sealed part of the enclosure of the vacuum insulation panel into the enclosure.