Novel hybrid vacuum/triple glazing units with pressure equalisation design

Abstract

h i g h l i g h t sA novel development of a hybrid vacuum/triple glazing system with a pressure equalisation design is reported. Negative pressure test was undertaken to examine the stresses and deformation generated in the new system. The maximum stresses and deflections were significantly reduced compared to the conventional design. This novel glazing system is safer than conventional vacuum glazing units. a b s t r a c tVacuum glazing units (VGUs) are thought to be a type of glazing system with superior effective insulation performance. However, the differential pressure between the outside and the inner spaces and the supporting pillars create a high pre-existing stress field in the constituent glass during fabrication and hence make the units highly susceptible to breakage, even under small applied loads. In order to address this problem, a novel hybrid vacuum/triple glazing system with a pressure equalisation design has been devised and is reported in this paper. In this system, a VGU is enclosed by two glass panels to form a triple glazing unit system. This new design creates an equalised air pressure on both sides of the VGU hence subjects the VGU to no additional loads apart from the inherent fabrication stresses. This results in a high thermal and sound insulation as well as a more durable safety performance of the hybrid glazing component. Pressure tests were undertaken on the novel glazing system to confirm its reliability. Results show that under various loading levels, the stresses and deflections in the VGU of this novel glazing system always remain at a marginal level, and hence the likelihood of breakage for VGUs can be reduced significantly.

Thermal Performance Optimization and Experimental Evaluation of Vacuum-Glazed Windows Manufactured via the In-Vacuum Method

“…This is because its main material is glass, which is vulnerable to external and internal stress. It is also not easy to maintain a vacuum state because the perfect bonding of glass edges to maintain the vacuum is difficult [27,28]. Moreover, it is difficult to apply coatings, such as low-e coatings capable of improving thermal performance, to the internal surfaces of multi-layer glass [4].…”

Prediction and Analysis of the Thermal Performance of Composite Vacuum Glazing

“…Experiments have been conducted to test their performance. For example, Minxi Bao et al [12] proposed a novel hybrid vacuum/triple glazing unit with pressure equalization design, and analyzed its mechanical properties. Laura Galuppi et al [13] followed up and examined the influence of the structural parameters on the load sharing of multiple insulating glazing units through Green's functions.…”

Glass forming region and bonding mechanism of low‐melting V2O5–TeO2–Bi2O3 glass applied in vacuum glazing sealing

“…Energy consumption has grown rapidly during the last few decades due to industrialization and urbanization; building energy consumption herein accounts for a considerable proportion. 1,2 Usually, windows, walls, or doors with glazed areas exhibit the worst thermal insulation performance among those building fabric components, 3 so that developing energy-saving glass is essential and significant.…”