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Vacuum Insulation Panels For Building Applications
Vacuum Insulation Panels For Building Applications
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Important for VIP core materials are the pore size distribution PSD and the largest pore size
diameter: These define the range of vacuum necessary for the low thermal conductivity.
Fumed silica materials have their largest pore size (300 nm) in the same order of magnitude as the
mean free path of air molecules at standard temperature and pressure (70 nm).
The outer envelope is one of the critical components of a VIP and is responsible to maintain the
vacuum in the panel. The envelope of VIPs is composed off multi layer films covering the whole
element, including the edges.
The multilayer films usable for VIP envelopes consist of different layers with an overall thickness
of 40-150mm. Currently, three different film types are being used for VIP envelopes:
Metal foils consisting of a central aluminium barrier layer, laminated between an outer PET layer
for scratch resistance and an inner PE sealing layer
Metallized films made from up to three layers of aluminium coated PET films and an inner PE
sealing layer
Polymer filmswith different plastic layers laminated to each other. The gas and vapour
permeation rate through these materials is higher than with metal or metalized films. These
films are only useful if the required lifetime is not too extensive or if special getters are
integrated in the VIPs .
[Left] Vacuum technology as building insulation: VIPs and [right] a comparison between a vacuum insulation panels and conventional
insulation with the same overall thermal performance .
Getters, desiccants and opacifiers
Important for the service life of the VIPs is maintaining the inner vacuum. To increase their service
life, getters and desiccants are often added in the VIPs: Continuously adsorbing the gasses
(getters) and the water vapour (desiccants) in the VIP core material, they prevent the increase of
the internal gas and vapour pressure.
A getter is a reactive material used for removing traces of gas from vacuum systems, such as vacuum
tubes.
Insulation
Foam Material – Polyurethane Material
Fiber Glass
External Wall
Internal
Wall
STRUCTURE OF VACUUM INSULATION
PANELS
Filler
Metalized –
material
Comparison [left] between the thermal conductivities of conventional and advanced insulation materials and solutions and
[right] between the required thicknesses for conventional insulation (e.g. glass wool) and a VIP
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Vacuum
Insulation Panels For Building Purposes
ADVANTAGES
High performance thermal insulating.
Increased floor area.
Appropriate refurbishing of existing
buildings with high restrictions.
Up to now the only material for which 4
cm is enough to meet (most of) building
regulations.
Lower operating temperature increases
thermal