SBIR Phase I: Novel High Performance Insulation for Energy Efficient Appliances using Discrete Spacer Technology

这个SBIR第一阶段项目专注于建模、设计、分析、建造和测试一种名为高性能多层绝缘(HPMLI)的商业超绝缘原型。HPMLI基于一种显著减少热泄漏的新技术，并允许在商业应用中使用多层绝缘。与目前最先进的R-6泡沫绝缘材料相比，HPMLI可以提供R-235隔热材料，将进入冰箱和冰柜的热泄漏降低40倍，并减少能源消耗。供暖和制冷占美国住宅能源使用量的74%，热水器和冰箱的年成本分别为26%和600亿美元。这种最初为NASA开发并用于航天的超级绝热材料，可以节省90%的制冷和加热电器能源，降低能源成本，保护我们的环境。这个机会是开发和制造一种新型的超高性能绝缘材料，供家电制造商和消费者使用，以提高能源效率，并将使这家小企业发展到17名员工，到2022年实现2000万美元的收入。这种绝缘材料有许多潜在的应用，包括家用冰箱、商用冰柜、热水器、冷藏卡车和集装箱、工业冷热加工、食品冷却器和建筑。HPMLI基于新型的分立间隔物和辐射屏蔽层，形成了一种新的非常高性能的绝缘材料。提出了一种新的系统，在这种系统中，间隔层可以在外部大气压力下自我支撑，从而可以在空气中使用。必须解决技术挑战，仔细平衡结构支撑、热通量、成本和集成到电器中的便利性。这种绝缘只能归功于离散间隔棒的独特性能，必须为这种应用而设计、开发和测试。我们的目标是成功地制造和测试一个原型，展示出超过R-200的热性能，并能够真空密封到真空板或电器箱壁中。该系统将根据几个概念进行热建模，重复的间隔器设计，为冰箱和/或食品冷却器建造的原型示范单元，以及测量通过隔热层的热通量。HPMLI将与目前最先进的泡沫塑料进行比较，并在第一阶段设计中考虑商业化所需的因素。

This SBIR Phase I project is focused on modeling, designing, analyzing, building and testing a prototype commercial superinsulation called High Performance Multi-Layer Insulation (HPMLI). HPMLI is based on a new technology that significantly reduces heat leak, and allows a multilayer insulation to be used in commercial applications. HPMLI could provide R-235 thermal insulation, compared to current state of the art R-6 foam insulation, offering 40-fold lower heat leak into fridges and freezers and reducing energy use. Heating and cooling account for 74% of U.S. residential energy use, with water heaters and refrigerators consuming 26% and $60B in annual costs. This superinsulation, originally developed for NASA and used for spaceflight, could save 90% of energy used for refrigeration and heating appliances, reducing energy costs and protecting our environment. This opportunity is to develop and manufacture a novel ultra-high-performance insulation for use by appliance manufacturers and consumers for improved energy efficiency, and will enable the small business to grow to 17 employees, with $20M in revenue by 2022. This insulation has many potential applications, including home refrigerators, commercial freezers, water heaters, refrigerated trucks and shipping containers, industrial hot/cold processes, food coolers and buildings.HPMLI is based on novel discrete spacers and radiation barrier layers, forming a new very high- performance insulation. A novel system is proposed in which the spacers self- support the layers against external atmospheric pressure, allowing use in air. Technical challenges must be solved that carefully balance structural support, heat flux, cost and ease of integration into appliances. This insulation is only possible due to the unique properties of the discrete spacers, which must be designed, developed and tested for this application. The goals are to successfully build and test a prototype demonstrating greater than R-200 thermal performance, and able to be vacuum sealed into vacuum panels or appliance case walls. The system will be thermally modeled for several concepts, a spacer design iterated, prototype demonstration units built for a fridge and/or food cooler, and the heat flux through the insulation measured. HPMLI will be compared to current state of the art foam, and factors required for commercialization considered in this Phase I design.