Patent · US Expired

Regenerable thermal insulation and cooling elements insulated thereby

US6087581A · kind A · utility

27Cited by
14References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 8, 1998
Grant dateJul 11, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 8, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF17C2223/033
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An insulation system is described which includes a containment wall with an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface at least in part defining a volume for containment of fluids or solids, an absorbent material which releases absorbed material when heated, the absorbent being in thermal contact with the outer surface of the containment wall, a structural wall contiguous to the outer surface of the containment wall, and an interior surface of the structural wall and the outer surface of the containment wall defining a volume of space where a vacuum can be maintained. The insulation system is used in a process for improving the performance of the insulation system, the process comprising the steps of: PA1 a) heating the containment wall to a temperature which will heat the absorbent material to a temperature which will cause the absorbent material to release absorbed material, PA1 b) removing the released absorbed material from the vacuum zone, and PA1 c) closing the vacuum zone, while under a reduced pressure to exclude ambient passage of gas into the vacuum zone. The process is highly effective even where the reduced pressure of step c) is substantially less than 0.25 …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.