Vacuum insulation panels (VIP) in refrigerator room, freezing room & fridge

Other conference contribution, 2013

With respect to the continuous trend of reduction in energy consumption vacuum insulation panels (VIP) find an increasing application in freezing and cold storage rooms of supermarkets as well as in refrigerators. This implies the investigation of VIP behaviour subject to conditions different from those encountered in building application.
The present contribution deals with the evolution of the internal pressure of VIPs subjected to low and freezing temperature for a period of 5 years confirming the prediction made earlier on its linear increase 0.6 mbar/year in the refrigerator room and 0.10 to 0.26 mbar/year in freezer room depending on the VIP type.
This is a clear indication that the aging process decelerates compared to the standard test condition of VIP due to the low temperature condition.
Further, a refrigerator with different VIP configuration was analysed with respect to their energy performance by means of thermal bridge analysis and possibilities to reduce them.