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

这个SBIR一期项目的重点是建模、设计、分析、建造和测试一种被称为高性能多层绝缘（HPMLI）的商业超级绝缘原型。HPMLI基于一项新技术，可显著减少热泄漏，并允许多层绝缘用于商业应用。与目前最先进的R-6泡沫隔热材料相比，HPMLI可以提供R-235隔热材料，将冰箱和冰柜的热泄漏率降低40倍，并减少能源消耗。供暖和制冷占美国住宅能源消耗的74%，其中热水器和冰箱消耗26%，年成本为600亿美元。这种超级绝缘材料最初是为美国国家航空航天局开发的，用于航天飞行，可以节省90%用于制冷和加热设备的能源，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，并将使小型企业发展到17名员工，到2022年收入达到2000万美元。这种绝缘材料有许多潜在的应用，包括家用冰箱，商用冷冻机，热水器，冷藏车和集装箱，工业热/冷过程，食品冷却器和建筑物。HPMLI是基于新的离散间隔层和辐射阻隔层，形成一种新的非常高性能的绝缘。提出了一种新颖的系统，在这种系统中，间隔层可以在外部大气压力下自我支撑层，从而可以在空气中使用。必须解决技术挑战，仔细平衡结构支持，热流，成本和易于集成到设备中。这种绝缘是唯一可能的，因为离散隔离器的独特性能，必须为这种应用设计，开发和测试。目标是成功地构建和测试一个原型，展示大于R-200的热性能，并能够真空密封到真空板或电器外壳墙壁中。该系统将对几个概念进行热建模，迭代间隔设计，为冰箱和/或食品冷却器建造原型演示单元，并测量通过隔热层的热流密度。HPMLI将与当前最先进的泡沫进行比较，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.