INNOVATIVE THERMAL SUPERINSULATION FOR REFRIGERATORS

REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER MANUFACTURERS ARE FACING THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DESIGN AND ENGINEERING CHALLENGES IN THEIR HISTORY. THE CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (CFCS) USED IN THE COMPRESSOR AND CABINET WALLS, ONCE HAILED AS NEARLY IDEAL COMPOUNDS FOR SAFETY, EFFICIENCY, AND INERTNESS, HAVE BEEN FOUND TO CATALYZE THE DESTRUCTION OF THE EARTH'S PROTECTIVE OZONE LAYER AND ARE SCHEDULED TO BE VIRTUALLY ELIMINATED IN THE NEXT DECADE. AT THE SAME TIME THAT MANUFACTURERS MUST REDESIGN FOR THE ELIMINATION OF CFCS, GOVERNMENT- MANDATED APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY STANDARDS CALL FORA 25% REDUCTION IN ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION IN 1993, WITH PROPOSALS OF 50 TO 60% REDUCTIONS IN 1996-1998. THE GOAL OFTHIS PHASE I RESEARCH PROJECT IS TO DEMONSTRATE A NOVEL SUPERINSULATION THAT (1) IS CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING INSULATING VALUES OF AT LEAST R-20 PER INCH WITH AN UPSIDE TECHNICAL POTENTIAL OF R-40 PER INCH, (2) CONTAINS NO CFCS, AND (3) ISECONOMIC AT CURRENT ELECTRICITY PRICES. THOUGH THIS INSULATION SYSTEM CANNOT EXCEED THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BEST MULTILAYER VACUUM INSULATION SYSTEMS, ITS PRICE-TO-PERFORMANCE RATIOS AND LONG LIFE PROPERTIES ARE BETTER THAN THE BEST MULTILAYER VACUUM SYSTEMS, POWDER INSULATIONS, AND AEROGELS CURRENTLY KNOWN.