Manufacture and cost of vacuum glazing

Journal Article · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Solar Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(95)00046-T· OSTI ID:415000

Garrison, J D ^[1]; Collins, R E ^[2]

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1. San Diego State Univ., CA (United States)
2. Univ. of Sydney (Australia)

The vacuum glazing project at the University of Sydney has progressed to the point where the main features of the vacuum glazing design are determined well. Over 500 glazings with areas up to one square meter have been formed. The stresses to which these glazings are or may be exposed have been studied extensively. The durability of the glazing structure and the internal vacuum has been demonstrated. Vacuum glazing of the type designed and formed at the University of Sydney has a center-of-glazing thermal conductance as low as 0.85 and 1.2 Wm{sup -2}/K{sup -1}, for glazings with two and one internal low emittance coatings, respectively. A method for the manufacture of the vacuum glazing is outlined from which the cost to manufacture the glazing can be estimated. A cost at the factory of about $$40{+-}7 m{sup -2} for vacuum glazing using two sheets of low-e glass and about $$32{+-}6 m{sup -2} for glazing using one sheet of low-e glass is obtained, when production volume is approx. 10{sup 5} m{sup 2}yr{sup -1} and is partially automated. This is about 25% higher than the estimated manufacturing cost of the high thermal resistance, argon filled, double glazing utilizing low-e glass, which are currently in production and being sold in the United States, Europe and Japan. These glazings typically have center-of-glazing thermal conductances of about 1.1 Wm{sup -2}K{sup -1} or more. 11 refs., 2 figs., 7 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 415000
• Journal Information: Solar Energy, Journal Name: Solar Energy Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 55; ISSN 0038-092X; ISSN SRENA4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
COST ESTIMATION
DOUBLE GLAZING
ENERGY CONSERVATION
MANUFACTURING
NUMERICAL DATA
THERMAL INSULATION
VACUUM SYSTEMS
WINDOWS