Insulated structure including cavities holding aerogel connected to a vacuum sustaining unit

Abstract

A thermal insulation system includes an evacuated structure having an internal space filled with an aerogel layer, in which a vacuum is sustained by a vacuum pump operating when it is determined that a pressure within the internal space has risen to a predetermined level. For example, such a system is used within a dome structure extending over and around a heat receiving structure within a solar heating system or within a system providing thermal insulation for a building structure, a refrigerator, or a railroad car.

1 . A thermally insulating system comprising:
 a thermally insulating structure including an internal space formed by internal surfaces;   an aerogel layer extending between at least parts of the internal surfaces within the internal space;   a vacuum sustaining unit including a first input tube connected to the internal space, a pressure sensor sensing a pressure within the internal space; and a vacuum pump evacuating air from the internal space in response to a signal from the pressure sensor indicating that a pressure within the internal space has risen above a predetermined level.   
     
     
         2 . The thermally insulating system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the thermally insulating structure includes a floor structure and a dome-shaped structure, extending upward from the floor structure,   the dome-shaped structure includes an internal surface forming a central space extending from the internal surface to the floor structure, and an external surface,   the internal space extends within the dome-shaped structure, separate from the central space and between the internal and external surfaces, and   the dome-shaped structure transmits solar radiation from outside the dome-shaped structure to the central space within the dome-shaped structure.   
     
     
         3 . The thermally insulating system of  claim 2 , wherein the dome-shaped structure comprises:
 an inner dome including a dome-shaped portion having an inner surface forming the internal surface, an outer surface, and a lower surface, with a lower flange extending outwardly around the lower surface;   an outer dome including a dome-shaped portion having an inner surface, an outer surface forming the external surface, and a lower surface, upwardly disposed from the lower flange of the inner dome, with an upper flange extending outwardly around the lower surface of the outer dome;   a gasket extending between the lower flange and the upper flange to enclose a space extending between the inner and outer translucent domes to form the internal space; and   at least one bracket holding the inner and outer translucent domes in a spaced-apart relationship.   
     
     
         4 . The thermally insulating system of  claim 3 , wherein
 the dome-shaped portions of the inner dome and the outer dome are each composed of a translucent material, and   at least one of the outer surfaces is coated with a selective material having a thermal absorption and a thermal emissivity, and   the thermal absorption of the selective material is significantly greater than the thermal emissivity of the selective material.   
     
     
         5 . The thermally insulating system of  claim 3 , wherein
 at least one of the dome shaped portions is composed of an opaque material,   at least one of the outer surfaces is coated with a selective material having a thermal absorption and a thermal emissivity, and   the thermal absorption of the selective material is significantly greater than the thermal emissivity of the selective material.   
     
     
         6 . The thermally insulating system of  claim 2 , wherein the dome-shaped structure comprises;
 a dome-shaped framework including a plurality of frame openings;   an inner sheet and an outer sheet held within each frame opening within the plurality of frame openings, wherein the inner and outer translucent sheets are held in a spaced-apart relationship to form a portion of the internal space, and wherein an aerogel layer extends within the portion of the internal space; and   a plurality of openings connecting the portions of the internal space in adjacent frame openings to form the internal space.   
     
     
         7 . The thermally insulating system of  claim 6 , wherein
 the dome-shaped framework additionally comprises a door section mounted to be moved between an open position and a closed position, and a flexible tube extending between the door and an adjacent surface of the dome-shaped framework;   access from outside the dome-shaped structure to the central space within the dome-shaped structure is provided with the door section in the open position and prevented with the door section in the closed position   the door section extends around one of the frame openings,   the door section holds the inner and outer sheets within the frame opening in the door section, and   the flexible hose connects the portion of the internal space between the inner and outer translucent curved sheets within the frame opening in the door section with the portion of the internal space within an adjacent frame opening.   
     
     
         8 . The thermally insulating system of  claim 6 , wherein the dome-shaped framework additionally includes an opening through which a lens concentrates solar radiation within the central space. 
     
     
         9 . The thermally insulating system of  claim 6 , wherein
 the inner sheet and the outer sheet held within each frame opening are composed of a translucent material,   at least one of the outer surfaces is coated with a selective material having a thermal absorption and a thermal emissivity, and   the thermal absorption of the selective material is significantly greater than the thermal emissivity of the selective material.   
     
     
         10 . The thermally insulating system of  claim 6 , wherein
 at least one of the inner and outer sheets held within each frame opening is composed of an opaque material,   the inner and outer sheets held within each frame opening each have an outer surface,   at least one of the outer surfaces is coated with a selective material having a thermal absorption and a thermal emissivity, and   the thermal absorption of the selective material is significantly greater than the thermal emissivity of the selective material.   
     
     
         11 . The thermally insulating system of  claim 2 , wherein the floor structure includes:
 a flat inner plate composed of a strong and resilient material;   a flat outer plate composed of a strong and resilient material;   a frame holding the flat inner and outer plates in a spaced-apart relationship and forming an inner space extending within the frame and between the flat inner and outer plates;   an aerogel layer held within the inner space extending within the frame and between the flat inner and outer plates; and   a second input tube connecting the inner space within the floor structure with the vacuum sustaining unit.   
     
     
         12 . The thermally insulating system of  claim 2 , additionally including a conduit connecting the central space with an external space. 
     
     
         13 . The thermally insulating system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the thermally insulating structure comprises a plurality of thermally insulating panels,   each of the thermally insulating panels includes a flat inner plate composed of a strong and resilient material, a flat outer plate composed of a strong and resilient material, and a frame holding the flat inner and outer plates in a spaced-apart relationship and forming an inner space extending within the frame and between the flat inner and outer plates,   a portion of the aerogel layer extends between the flat inner plate and the flat outer plate within each of the thermally insulating panels and   the interior space within each of the thermally insulating panels is connected to the vacuum sustaining unit.   
     
     
         14 . The thermally insulating system of  claim 13 , wherein the interior space within each of the thermally insulating panels is connected to the vacuum sustaining unit by a common evacuation tube. 
     
     
         15 . The thermally insulating system of  claim 13 , wherein interior spaces within adjacent thermally insulating panels are connected by openings extending through adjacent portions of the frames within the adjacent thermally insulating panels. 
     
     
         16 . The thermally insulating system of  claim 13 , wherein
 the thermally insulating panels form a box structure, extending around a central space, and a door structure,   the box structure includes a first access opening.   the door structure is movable between a closed position, extending within the first access opening, and an open position,   access into the central space is provided with the door structure in the open position and prevented with the door structure in the closed position, and   the door structure includes one of the thermally insulating panels, connected to the vacuum sustaining unit by a path including a flexible hose.   
     
     
         17 . Solar heating apparatus comprising:
 a heat receiving structure through which a fluid flows to be heated by solar radiation; and   a thermally insulating structure, including a floor structure and a dome-shaped structure, extending upward from the floor structure, wherein the dome-shaped structure includes an internal surface forming a central space holding the heat-receiving structure and extending from the internal surface to the floor structure, and at least one outward-facing surface coated with a selective material having a thermal absorption and a thermal emissivity, wherein the thermal absorption of the selective material is significantly greater than the thermal emissivity of the selective material.   
     
     
         18 . The solar heating apparatus of  claim 17 , additionally comprising:
 an evacuated internal space extending within the dome-shaped structure, separate from the central space and between the internal and external surfaces, wherein the evacuated internal space is at least partly filled with an aerogel layer, and wherein the dome-shaped structure transmits solar radiation from outside the dome-shaped structure to the central space within the dome-shaped structure; and   a vacuum sustaining unit including a first input tube connected to the internal space, a pressure sensor sensing a pressure within the internal space; and a vacuum pump evacuating air from the internal space in response to a signal from the pressure sensor indicating that a pressure within the internal space has risen above a predetermined level.   
     
     
         19 . The solar heating apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the floor structure includes:
 a flat inner plate composed of a strong and resilient material;   a flat outer plate composed of a strong and resilient material;   a frame holding the flat inner and outer plates in a spaced-apart relationship and forming an evacuated inner space extending within the frame and between the flat inner and outer plates, wherein the evacuated inner space is at least partly filled with an aerogel layer, and wherein the evacuated inner space is connected to the vacuum sustaining unit.   
     
     
         20 . The solar heating apparatus of  claim 18 , additionally including a conduit connecting the central space with an external space.