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 for a 25% reduction in electricity consumption in 1993, with proposals of 50 to 60% reductions in 1996-1998. The goal of this Phase I research project is to demonstrate a novel superinsulation that (1) is capable of achieving insulating values of at least R20 per inch with an upside technical potential of R40 per inch, (2) contains no CFCs, and (3) is economic 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.Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee:Current CFC-blown polyurethane foam insulations have insulating values of about R-8 per inch, and the proposed interim insulations using hydrochlorofluorocarbons have insulating values of about R-7 per inch. Because refrigerator/freezers are estimated to consume 7% of total electric demand in the U.S., the economic benefits to the Nation of an ozone-layer compatible insulation with performance of R 20 to 40 per inch are potentially significant. This new insulation technology has another potential application in insulating building skins, which also permit large energy losses at present. Phase I award selection made to Enhanced Insulations, Inc.; firm has since changed its name to Vacuum Energy, Inc.
