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Title: Material-controlled dynamic vacuum insulation

Abstract

A compact vacuum insulation panel is described comprising a chamber enclosed by two sheets of metal, glass-like spaces disposed in the chamber between the sidewalls, and a high-grade vacuum in the chamber includes apparatus and methods for enabling and disabling, or turning ``on`` and ``off`` the thermal insulating capability of the panel. One type of enabling and disabling apparatus and method includes a metal hydride for releasing hydrogen gas into the chamber in response to heat, and a hydrogen grate between the metal hydride and the chamber for selectively preventing and allowing return of the hydrogen gas to the metal hydride. Another type of enabling and disabling apparatus and method includes a variable emissivity coating on the sheets of metal in which the emissivity is controllably variable by heat or electricity. Still another type of enabling and disabling apparatus and method includes metal-to-metal contact devices that can be actuated to establish or break metal-to-metal heat paths or thermal short circuits between the metal sidewalls. 25 figs.

Inventors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
379933
Patent Number(s):
US 5,562,154/A/
Application Number:
PAN: 8-194,932
Assignee:
NREL; SCA: 320107; PA: EDB-96:150013; SN: 96001674309
DOE Contract Number:  
AC02-83CH10093
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 8 Oct 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; THERMAL INSULATION; DESIGN; CONTROL EQUIPMENT; PANELS; LOW PRESSURE; SPACERS; HYDROGEN STORAGE; COATINGS; EVAPORATION

Citation Formats

Benson, D. K., and Potter, T. F. Material-controlled dynamic vacuum insulation. United States: N. p., 1996. Web.
Benson, D. K., & Potter, T. F. Material-controlled dynamic vacuum insulation. United States.
Benson, D. K., and Potter, T. F. 1996. "Material-controlled dynamic vacuum insulation". United States.
@article{osti_379933,
title = {Material-controlled dynamic vacuum insulation},
author = {Benson, D. K. and Potter, T. F.},
abstractNote = {A compact vacuum insulation panel is described comprising a chamber enclosed by two sheets of metal, glass-like spaces disposed in the chamber between the sidewalls, and a high-grade vacuum in the chamber includes apparatus and methods for enabling and disabling, or turning ``on`` and ``off`` the thermal insulating capability of the panel. One type of enabling and disabling apparatus and method includes a metal hydride for releasing hydrogen gas into the chamber in response to heat, and a hydrogen grate between the metal hydride and the chamber for selectively preventing and allowing return of the hydrogen gas to the metal hydride. Another type of enabling and disabling apparatus and method includes a variable emissivity coating on the sheets of metal in which the emissivity is controllably variable by heat or electricity. Still another type of enabling and disabling apparatus and method includes metal-to-metal contact devices that can be actuated to establish or break metal-to-metal heat paths or thermal short circuits between the metal sidewalls. 25 figs.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/379933}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Oct 08 00:00:00 EDT 1996},
month = {Tue Oct 08 00:00:00 EDT 1996}
}