SBIR Phase I: Vacuum Insulation Panels with Tensile Structural Elements

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将开发一种超薄高R值坚固的真空绝热板（VIP）。 热模型表明，对于1/2”厚的VIP，R值可以达到50，预期零售成本约为4.25美元/平方英尺。 该技术使用拉伸结构元件作为热阻抗，并基于已从芝加哥的伊利诺伊大学获得许可的未决专利。 VIP预计将适合安装在工业和住宅结构中，因为它具有不锈钢箔外部，而当前的VIP技术使用聚酯和铝箔的层压材料作为其真空屏障。铝箔在电流VIP周围产生热短路（边缘损耗），这会大大降低其有效R值。使用不锈钢具有显著减少边缘损失以及增加抗穿刺性的额外优点。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是大幅减少用于加热和冷却住宅或用于运输易腐货物的卡车所需的能源。在运输，冷藏高立方拖车与3？聚氨酯泡沫的R值约为19，当使用R值为50的1/2”厚VIP时，可以增加9%的体积，并减轻860磅的重量。 美国的大多数冷藏拖车每小时消耗多达1.1加仑的柴油来保持货物的低温。由于约有330，000辆冷藏拖车每年运行约3，000小时，这意味着节省了62%的燃料，或占该国每年柴油总消耗量的近2%。紧凑和廉价的隔热材料可以更好地利用新住宅内的空间，并用于改造现有住宅，使其具有更高的R值隔热。 2002年，NAHB研究中心为美国住房和城市发展部办公室准备的住宅市场VIP审查中，低抗穿刺性被认为是减缓真空隔热板采用的关键因素。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop an ultra-thin high-R-value robust vacuum insulation panel (VIP). Thermal models indicate that with a ½" thick VIP an R-value of 50 can be achieved with an expected retail cost of ~$4.25/ft2. The technology uses tensile structural elements as thermal impedances and is based on a pending patent which has been licensed from the University of Illinois at Chicago. The VIP is expected to be suitable for installation in industrial and residential structures since it has a stainless steel foil exterior as opposed to current VIP technology, which uses a laminate of polyester and aluminum foil as its vacuum barrier. The aluminum foil creates a thermal short (edge losses) around the current VIPs which can greatly reduce their effective R-value. The use of stainless steel has the additional advantage of significantly reducing edge losses as well as increased puncture resistance. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be a drastic reduction in the energy required to heat and cool dwellings, or to refrigerate trucks used to transport perishable goods. In transportation, a refrigerated hi-cube trailer with 3? of polyurethane foam has an R-value of ~19, and could gain 9% more volume and carry 860 pounds less weight when using a ½" thick VIP with an R-value of 50. Most refrigerated trailers in the US consume up to 1.1 gallons of diesel fuel each hour to keep their loads cold. Since there are ~330,000 refrigerated trailers operating for ~3,000 hours/year, this translates into a fuel savings of 62%, or nearly 2% of the total diesel fuel consumption in this country each year. Compact and inexpensive thermal insulation can make better use of space inside new dwellings, and be used to retrofit existing dwellings with higher R-value insulation. In a 2002 review of VIPs for the residential market prepared by NAHB Research Center for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development Office, low puncture resistance was cited as a key factor slowing the adoption of vacuum insulation panels.