Vacuum Insulated Panel Getter Trough for Stable Vacuum Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum insulated panels face challenges in maintaining a high vacuum state and effective thermal insulation due to gas permeation through the substrates, which affects their insulating performance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of an elongated getter with a specific aspect ratio and partial exposure to air or gas in a recess, combined with a hermetic edge seal and spacers, to enhance vacuum maintenance and thermal insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vacuum insulated panel uses traditional flat or small-area getters, then the device complexity is low, but the vacuum maintenance effectiveness is insufficient due to gas permeation through substrates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional flat or small-area getters to a three-dimensional trench structure with vertical walls and a base. This dimensional change increases the getter's surface area and volume, enabling more effective gas sorption throughout the vacuum space while maintaining a compact footprint within the panel structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The getter structure is segmented into distinct components: vertical trench walls and a base portion. This segmentation allows each surface to be optimally positioned for gas capture from different directions within the vacuum space, improving overall vacuum maintenance effectiveness through distributed sorption surfaces.
2Reliability
If the getter is completely covered by substrate, then the manufacturing precision is high, but the gas exposure effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is designed with a localized recess structure that selectively exposes specific portions of the getter (the vertical walls and base) to the vacuum space while leaving other portions covered. This local quality differentiation optimizes gas sorption effectiveness at the getter-substrate interface while maintaining precise manufacturing control over the recess geometry.
3Loss of energy
If the vacuum gap is maintained at low pressure, then the thermal insulation performance is improved, but the gas permeation through substrates becomes more significant
Solution Approach 1:
The getter structure provides self-service vacuum maintenance by passively sorbing gas molecules that permeate through the substrates. The trench configuration with exposed vertical walls and base creates multiple surfaces that continuously capture gas molecules, automatically compensating for gas ingress without requiring active pumping or additional energy input.
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 solution effectively maintains a high vacuum state and enhances thermal insulation by reducing gas permeation, leading to improved energy efficiency in buildings and appliances.
Implementation Method 1
an elongated getter, wherein the getter as viewed from above is elongated in shape and has a ratio L/W of at least 2:1... the getter is at least partially positioned in a first recess defined in at least one of the substrates
Implementation Method 2
Providing a vacuum in the space between the substrates reduces conduction and convection heat transport, and thus provides insulating properties
Implementation Method 3
Providing a vacuum in the space between the substrates reduces conduction and convection heat transport, and thus provides insulating properties
Implementation Method 4
reducing radiative energy with a low-emissivity (low-E) coating provided on one of the substrates
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum insulating panel includes first and second substrates (e.g., glass substrates), a hermetic edge seal, a pump-out port, and spacers sandwiched between at least the two substrates. The gap between the substrates may be at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure to provide insulating properties. The panel may include a getter. The getter may be a thin film getter and/or may be elongated in shape. A support surface of a first recess, in which the getter is positioned, may be designed in order to improve sorption of the getter. For example, a second recess may be defined in a base of the first recess, in order to improve sorption of the getter.