Vacuum Insulator Pressure Sensing for Non-Destructive Thermal Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transportation of pharmaceuticals and other temperature-sensitive items requires strict temperature control, but conventional vacuum insulation materials suffer from reduced vacuum levels due to external forces and aging, leading to deteriorated thermal insulation performance, and existing testing methods are time-consuming and risk damaging the insulation material.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum insulator system with a core, pressure sensor, wireless transmitter, and power feeder within a gas-barrier outer skin, allowing for non-contact pressure detection and transmission, enabling safe and rapid testing of thermal insulation performance without battery leakage or size increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional testing equipment (heat flux sensor, temperature sensor) is used to test thermal insulation performance, then measurement can be performed, but the vacuum insulation material may be damaged and testing time becomes lengthy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based testing equipment with wireless sensing technology. Pressure sensors and temperature sensors are equipped with wireless transmission modules that communicate test data wirelessly to external devices, eliminating the need for mechanical connections and heat flux sensors that physically contact the vacuum insulation material, thereby preventing damage while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless communication modules as intermediaries between the sensors and the external testing system. These modules transmit measurement data through electromagnetic fields without requiring physical contact with the vacuum insulation material, serving as a non-intrusive mediator that enables data acquisition while preserving material integrity
2Measurement precision
If conventional testing equipment is used, then thermal insulation performance can be tested, but testing time becomes lengthy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming mechanical testing procedures with wireless automated measurement systems. The wireless pressure sensors and temperature sensors continuously transmit data without requiring setup, adjustment, or manual intervention, significantly reducing the time required to complete thermal insulation performance tests while maintaining measurement accuracy
3Ease of operation
If battery-powered wireless sensors are used inside the vacuum insulator, then wireless pressure detection is enabled, but battery leakage may lower the degree of vacuum
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs energy harvesting technology where the wireless sensor system generates its own power through ambient energy collection (such as vibration energy harvesting or RF energy harvesting from the environment). This self-powered approach eliminates the need for batteries entirely, allowing wireless pressure detection functionality while preventing any risk of battery leakage that would compromise the vacuum seal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes batteries completely from the system by extracting the power source function and replacing it with energy harvesting mechanisms. This extraction of the harmful battery component while retaining the useful wireless sensing capability resolves the contradiction between operational convenience and vacuum integrity
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
Enables safe and rapid testing of thermal insulation performance, reducing testing time and preventing damage to the vacuum insulation material while maintaining the insulation's integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor that detects a pressure
Implementation Method 2
a transmitter that transmits, by wireless communication, the detected pressure detected by the pressure sensor
Implementation Method 3
a power feeder that feeds electric power to the pressure sensor and the transmitter
Implementation Method 4
an outer skin, an inside of which is decompressed, the outer skin accommodating therein the core, the pressure sensor, the transmitter, and the power feeder, the outer skin having gas barrier capability
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum insulator (10) includes: a core (13); a pressure sensor (51) that detects a pressure; a transmitter (52) that transmits, by wireless communication, the detected pressure detected by the pressure sensor (51); a power feeder (53) that feeds electric power to the pressure sensor (51) and the transmitter (52); and an outer skin (14), an inside of which is decompressed, the outer skin (14) accommodating therein the core (13), the pressure sensor (51), the transmitter (52), and the power feeder (53), the outer skin (14) having gas barrier capability.