The Thermal Resistance of a Vacuum Insulated Glass Panel

Abstract

The role of energy use in our dwellings is a critical part of any policy which aims to mitigate climate change. A significant proportion of this is the uncontrolled loss of energy through the windows, which in some buildings is a large area of the envelope. Vacuum Insulated Glass (VIG) is the next-generation technology, where transparent windows will be as thermally insulating as the opaque wall. More importantly, at the potential high thermal resistance that could be reached, buildings would provide a net surplus of energy. Nevertheless, the current available literature has not provided a concise and detailed description of the potential thermal resistance which a VIG design might provide. In this work a design framework is outlined. Through a well-defined process, the total thermal resistance of any VIG design can be determined with high accuracy. Various designs are examined as case studies, and measurements are conducted to assess the precision of the design process. Ultimately, such a framework would enhance the confidence of architects, engineers, and others, enabling them to make informed design choices and incorporate VIG products into building projects.