Ontario Building Officials Association(OBOA), 2010 AMTS Technical Committee Meeting, 06 October 2010
Green in Blue Mountains
High-Performance Vacuum Insulation
Panel in Building Envelope
Construction
Dr. Phalguni Mukhopadhyaya
Senior Research Officer
Presentation Outline
 What is high performance thermal insulation?
 Vacuum insulation panel – advantages and
challenges
 Various applications
 Conclusions
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Heat Transfer Mechanisms
 Primary mechanisms
• Conduction
• Convection
• Radiation
 Influenced by
• Air infiltration
• Air intrusion
• Moisture accumulation
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High Performance Thermal Insulation ?
 Higher thermal resistance
 Long service life
 Environmentally friendly
 Sustainable systems
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Thermal Performance Improvement Continues
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Basics for High Performance
Thermal Insulation
1.4
= 1/R BTU/hr ft2 F
Heat flow/temperature difference
1.6
Convection
Conduction
1.2
Radiation
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
1”
2”
3”
Ordinary air spaces
CBD – 149; Shirtliffe
1”
2”
3”
Air spaces with
reflective surface
1”
2”
3”
Spaces filled with
glass fibres
Heat Transfer Across Air Spaces –
Contribution by Radiation, Conduction and Convection
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Insulation – Components for Heat Transfer
Thermal conductivity (W/m.K)
0.03
Air conduction
0.02
Thermal
conductivity
(W m-1 K-1)
R-value
per inch
0.040
3.6
0.035
4.1
0.030
4.8
0.025
5.8
0.020
7.2
0.015
9.6
0.010
14.4
0.005
28.9
Radiation
0.01
Solid conduction
0
0
20
60
40
Density (kg/m3)
80
100
Reduce Air Conduction Component – High Thermal Resistance
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High Performance Thermal Insulation
 Closed-cell foam insulation
• Blowing agent conductivity  Air conductivity
 Aerogel
• Air conductivity (nanopore) < Air conductivity
(macropore)
 Vacuum insulation
• Air conductivity  Zero
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High Performance Thermal Insulation
 Closed cell foam insulation
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Solid polymer
matrix
Closed cell
(Blowing agent)
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High Performance Thermal Insulation
 Aerogel: Air conductivity (nanopore)
< Air conductivity (macropore)
Thermal Conductivity [W/(mK)]
0.028
0.024
0.020
Pore diameter 10 mm
0.016
1 mm
0.1 mm
0.012
0.01 mm
0.001 mm
0.008
Fumed
silica/aerogel
0.004
0
1.0E-02 1.0E-01
1.0E+00 1.0E+01 1.0E+02 1.0E+03 1.0E+04 1.0E+05
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Gas pressure (Pa)
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High Performance Thermal Insulation
 VIP: Air conductivity component  zero
Thermal conductivity (W/m.K)
0.03
Air conduction
0.02
Radiation
0.01
Solid conduction
0
0
20
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60
40
Density (kg/m3)
80
100
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Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP)
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Source: NRCan
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Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP)
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Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP)
499 mm (19.7”)
Glass Fibre
R63
EPS
VIP
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Source: NRCan
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Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP)
Getter/desiccant
Core material
Multi-layer
envelope film
Gas barrier/
facer foil
Core-bag
Pressed silica core
with opacifier
Green in Blue MountainsSource: IEA/ECBCS Annex 39
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Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP)
1. Core Material – imparts mechanical strength
and thermal insulating capacity
2. Gas Barrier / Facer Foil – provides air and
vapour tight enclosure for core material
3. Getter / Desiccant – adsorbs residual or
permeating atmospheric gases or water
vapour in the VIP enclosure
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Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP)
 Inherent advantages
• Higher thermal resistance*
• Reduced thickness of the component
• Recyclable
* Any damage in the vacuum system (even a small
pinhole) will severely destroy the thermal insulating
capacity of VIPs
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Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP)
 Challenges
• Cost (relatively expensive)
• Building physics and engineering
– Aging and durability
– Thermal bridge effects at edges
– Condensation
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Alternative Core Materials for VIP
 Precipitated silica, fumed silica, nanogel
(silica aerogel) are used as core materials
 Core materials are expensive
 Alternative core materials can reduce the
cost of VIP
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Vacuum Guarded Hot Plate (VGHP)
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Vacuum enclosure
Cold plates
Fixed end
Stand
Main guarded heater
VGHP Operation
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Thermal Characteristics of Core Materials
Thermal Characteristics vs. Pore Pressure
3.6
0.040
4.8
0.030
0.025
0.020
0.015
0.010
0.005
7.2
14.4
R-value Per Inch
0.035
Atmospheric pressure
Thermal conductivity (W/m.K)
(Mineral Oxide Fibre Board)
28.8
0
1
10
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100
1000
10,000
Pressure (Pa) – Log scale
100,000 1,000,000
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Thermal Characteristics of Core Materials
3.6
0.030
Open-cell polystyrene
Precipitated silica
4.8
0.025
0.020
0.015
0.010
0.005
7.2
R-value Per Inch
0.035
Nanogel (Barrier Ultra-R)
Open-cell polyurethane
Atmospheric pressure
Thermal conductivity (W/m.K)
0.040
14.4
28.8
0
1
10
100
10,000
100,000
Pressure (Pa) – Log scale
Source: http://www.glacierbay.com/vacpanelinfo.asp
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1,000
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Alternative Nano-Porous Core Materials
Pore Structure Analysis – Scanning Electron Microscopic
Mineral Oxide Fibre Board (MOFB)
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High Density Glass Fibre (HDGF)
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Alternative Nano-Porous Core Materials
Thermal Characteristics of MOFB and HDGF
3.6
0.030
0.025
0.020
0.015
0.010
4.8
7.2
R-value Per Inch
0.035
Atmospheric pressure
Thermal conductivity (W/m.K)
0.040
14.4
Mineral oxide fibre board
High density glass fibre
0.005
28.8
0
1
10
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100
1,000
10,000
100,000 1,000,000
Pressure (Pa) – Log scale
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Alternative Nano-Porous Core Materials
Particle Size Analysis – Output from Particle Analyzer
Particle Size Distribution
Pumice
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Particle Size Distribution
Zeolite
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Alternative Nano-Porous Core Materials
Thermal Characteristics of Pumice and Zeolite Powders
1.8
0.080
Pumice Powder
0.060
0.050
0.040
0.030
0.020
0.010
0.000
Zeolite Powder
0.070
2.1
0.060
2.4
0.050
2.9
0.040
3.6
0.030
4.8
0.020
7.2
0.010
14.4
R-value Per Inch
0.070
Thermal Conductivity (W/m.K)
Thermal Conductivity (W/m.K)
0.080
0.000
1
10
100
1000
10000
Pressure (Pa) - Log Scale
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100000
1000000
1
10
100
1000
10000
100000
1000000
Pressure (Pa) - Log Scale
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Alternative Nano-Porous Core Materials
Basic Hypothesis of Fibre-Powder Composite
Fibres
Powder
particle
Pores
(a) Fibrous pore structures
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(b) Fibrous pore structures
packed with particles
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Alternative Nano-Porous Core Materials
Basic Hypothesis of Fibre-Powder Composite
 25 mm
Powder
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Fibreboard
 3.5 mm
 3.5 mm
 3.5 mm
 3.5 mm
 3.5 mm
 3.5 mm
 3.5 mm
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Alternative Nano-Porous Core Materials
Comparison of Thermal Characteristics –
New/Alternative Core Materials vs. Nanogel and Precipitated Silica
1.8
0.07
High density glass fibre – Pumice powder composite
2.1
0.06
Precipitated Silica
Nanogel
Mineral oxide fibre – Zeolite powder composite
2.4
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
2.9
3.6
4.8
7.2
R-value Per Inch
Mineral oxide fibre – Pumice powder composite
Atmospheric pressure
Thermal conductivity (W/m.K)
0.08
14.4
0
1
10
100
1,000
10,000
Pressure (Pa) – Log scale
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100,000 1,000,000
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Alternative Nano-Porous Core Materials
New Vacuum Packaging Facility at NRC-IRC
Chamber
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VIP specimen
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Vacuum Insulation Panel
 Challenges
• Building physics and engineering
– Aging and durability
– Thermal bridge effects at edges
– Condensation
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Aging and Durability
 Manufacturing
 Properties of core materials
 Handling and exposure
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Source: IEA/ECBCS Annex 39
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Thermal Bridge
 Use large panels
 Overlap panels
 Fill gaps at edges with insulating materials
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Warm side
Cold side
Source: IEA/ECBCS Annex 39
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Condensation
 VIP is an absolute vapour barrier
 Avoid damp construction materials
 Consequences of vacuum failure
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Various Applications
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Source: IEA/ECBCS Annex 39
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Various Applications
Wall
Floor
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Ceiling
Wall
Source: IEA/ECBCS Annex 39
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Apartment and Office Block (Europe)
Façade Renovation
Vertical Lath
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Concrete
Vertical Lath
VIP
Foam Panel
Plaster
After
Source: IEA/ECBCS Annex 39
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Office Building (Europe)
Insulated Prefabricated Concrete Elements
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Source: IEA/ECBCS Annex 39
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Prefabricated Wall Elements
Coping stone
Lath
Anchor
Polyurethane foam
Vacuum insulation
Vapour stop
Concrete
ca. 27 cm
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Source: IEA/ECBCS Annex 39
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Semi-detached House (Europe)
Façade Renovation
Before
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After
Source: IEA/ECBCS Annex 39
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Semi-detached House
Cross-section of Insulated Wall
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56 mm
Wall
Vapour barrier
Vacuum insulation (15 mm)
Polystyrene (35 mm)
PVC rail
Reinforcing plaster (3 mm)
Synthetic resin plaster (3 mm)
Source: IEA/ECBCS Annex 39
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Semi-detached House
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Installation
Source: IEA/ECBCS Annex 39
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Performance Assessment
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Source: IEA/ECBCS Annex 39
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Terraced House (Europe)
Building Envelope Renovation
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Source: IEA/ECBCS Annex 39
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Terraced House
Cross-section of Insulated Wall
9.2
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Brick wall (340 mm)
Separating layer (10 mm)
Vacuum insulation (30 mm)
Compressible foam tape
Lath of laminated wood (40/30)
Hespen-profile (12 x 40 mm)
Vacuum insulation (15 mm)
Soft grain board painted with bitumen (22 mm)
Fermacell board HD (15 mm)
Source: IEA/ECBCS Annex 39
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Performance Assessment
2002
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Source: IEA/ECBCS Annex 39
2003
46
Net Zero Energy Super E House (Japan)
Source: Chris Mattock MRAIC, Habitat Design Plus Consulting Ltd.
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Flat Roof Assembly
TYPICAL FLAT ROOF
Metal roof
Roofing paper
12.5 mm plywood sheathing
shaped 38x184 @ 610mm o.c.
Fibreglass bracket
150 mm Rock wool (R22)
Roofing paper
12.5 mm plywood sheathing
241 mmI-joist @610mm o.c.
241 mm Icynene A.B. (R34.2)
21 mm VIP (R43)
19x89 strapping @610mm o.c.
12.5mm drywall ceiling
Paint finish
Source: Chris Mattock MRAIC, Habitat Design Plus Consulting Ltd.
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Harmony House Equilibrium Project (Canada)
RSI 1.06
R 6 triple
glazed
windows
Source: Chris Mattock MRAIC, Habitat Design Plus Consulting Ltd.
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Wall Assembly
www.harmony-house.ca
Source: Chris Mattock MRAIC, Habitat Design Plus Consulting Ltd.
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Upcoming Northern Canada Project
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House in Yukon
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Conclusions
 High performance thermal insulation can be
used in various components of the exterior
building envelopes.
 Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP) offers a great
new opportunity for the thermal insulation
industry in Canada.
 NRC-IRC is in the forefront of VIP technology
research and application.
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Parting Shot
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Parting Remarks
All the forces in the world are not so
powerful as an idea whose time has
come.
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Victor Hugo
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Insulation and Building
Materials Laboratory (IBML)
Measurement
Focus Areas
Heat flow metre –
thermal conductivity






Vacuum guarded hot plate –
thermal conductivity
Guarded hot plate –
thermal conductivity

to
Innovation
Thermal and moisture performance assessment of
insulation and building materials
National thermal measurement calibration laboratory
Research support to CCMC and CCC
Development of standard test methods
Analytical techniques for thermal and moisture
transport process
Maintain and enhance unique hygrothermal material
property database
Research on innovative building materials
Pressure plate apparatus –
desorption isotherm
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Air permeability apparatus –
air permeability
Partial immersion –
water absorption coefficient
Sorption / desorption measurement –
sorption / desorption isotherm
Constant temperature and humidity
chambers – water vapour diffusion
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Thank You
 Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
(CMHC)
 Kingspan Insulated Panels
 Yukon Housing
 Yukon Cold Climate Innovation Centre
 Panasonic Canada
 Energy Solutions Centre
 Yukon College
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Upcoming International VIP Conference
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www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/irc