Development of Slim and Translucent Vacuum Insulation Panels

Part1- Investigation on Core Material with Structural Calculation and Heat Transfer Calculation and Trial Production of Vacuum Insulation Panels and Their Performance Evaluation

Abstract

This study aims at developing the vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) with small thickness and light transmittance to contribute retrofitting insulation for existing buildings. The authors are focus on producing the slim and translucent VIPs with vacuum layer which hold by spacers. Firstly, the outlines of vacuum layer type VIPs were introduced. Next, the structural calculation was carried out as a mechanical analysis to determine the specific array of spacers to pillars supported type. Then, the heat transfer model applying the one-dimensional calculation was developed to predict the insulation performance of VIPs. After that, the authors conducted an experiment applying the guarded hot plate method in order to verify the apparent thermal conductivity of VIP according to the set pressure. The result showed that the apparent thermal conductivity was less than 0.1 W/(m･K) and was enough low. Finally, the VIPs with different core materials were trial produced and the apparent thermal conductivity were evaluated by the heat flux method.