A new era of energy-saving black technology for doors and windows: vacuum glass products!
We have previously discussed various building technologies that help improve energy efficiency. Some have received more attention because they can have a huge impact. However, some are worth investing in, even if they don't get as much discussion. A good example is the use of vacuum-insulated glass.
Because most homes and buildings regulate indoor temperatures through heating systems, it is necessary to ensure that there is no heat loss from the interior of the building. Unfortunately, most heat is lost through windows, which is easier to prevent now than ever.
Nowadays, most buildings are designed to be beautiful, with large areas covered by glass instead of brick walls. This means that heat generated on the outside can escape from a larger area to the inside.
Vacuum glass technology helps buildings and homes meet the requirements of net zero energy windows by reducing their thermal transmittance values. This avoids any energy loss on the outside, making the area highly energy-efficient. In the hot summer, these glass installations can also effectively avoid the heat generated by heating the interior of the building. Both are good for the environment and your wallet.
What is vacuum glass?
The idea of developing a vacuum in a sheet of glass first emerged in 1913, but it took many years before it was perfected enough to be marketed in the mid-1990s, starting in Japan. The idea was inspired by the development of vacuum-sealed flasks, used to keep drinks hot or cold. By creating a vacuum between two or even three panes of rigid glass, thermal efficiency is maximized, providing sound insulation. The higher the insulation provided, the lower the U-value.
Typically, 3-4 mm thick sheets of glass are sealed with a seal, and the vacuum cavity between them has a pressure of less than 0.1 Pa. The glass is separated by stainless steel support columns that are 0.13 mm high and 0.3 mm in diameter. The cavity between the panes is a key element of these glass units, as there is no medium between the panes to transfer heat and sound. This is accomplished by reducing the pressure and absorbing it with a low thermal conductivity spacer. Triple vacuum insulated glass has a U-value of less than 0.1w/m·k
Studies have shown that homes that have been retrofitted with triple vacuum glass to traditional glass have a significant reduction in annual heating costs of 15.31% and residential heat loss of 10.23%.
Until recently, glazing systems filled with argon, xenon, or krypton were widely used. Because these gases are denser than air, they increase heat transfer. Argon has a thermal conductivity of 67% of air, krypton 35%, and xenon 22%.
However, in areas with many windows, especially commercial buildings, it is much more practical to keep solar heat radiation out, which is one thing these windows cannot do effectively. There is also the risk of gas leakage, which can naturally escape at 1% per year due to the pressure difference between the outside and the inside, even if the window is structurally sound. This is due to daily and seasonal temperature changes causing the gas to alternately contract and expand. The insulating gas is squeezed through the seals, which become ineffective over time.
Insulating windows lose their insulating properties when the gas escapes, and there is also the possibility that the center glass in a triple-glazed unit will collapse. This is a nice look, and there is a chance that the glass will shatter. Another possibility is that krypton and xenon are expensive, driving up the price of manufacturing these windows. Although argon is cheaper, the cost of manufacturing windows with it is also increased because it takes time to manufacture windows with this gas.
With a vacuum glazing system, there is no need to worry about anything escaping because there is no gas. That's why they are more efficient and are quickly replacing gas-filled glazing as the window type of choice. They can be installed in many types of frames, but for wooden frames, they reach a higher level of efficiency.
How does this type of window improve energy efficiency?
A vacuum is the best thermal insulator, as there are no air or gas molecules to transfer any heat.
The thin vacuum gap ensures nothing to conduct heat, only a fraction of a millimeter wide. The total thickness of the completed unit is only half the thickness of traditional double-glazing.
The windows are waterproof and airtight, and cannot absorb moisture between the panes, thanks to the inorganic seals used to seal the edges of the unit. These thermally separate the outer and inner panes and form a continuous thermal short circuit.
The electronic coating also helps slow the transfer of radiant heat from the interior.
The panes are prevented from touching each other by a series of fine beads arranged in a grid pattern, and they occupy a minimum of space to ensure that almost no heat loss is allowed.
Is it safe enough to use?
Not only does vacuum-insulated glass maximize thermal efficiency, but there is no gas between the glass sheets. Besides this, there are other benefits, there is no risk of any gas escaping, which can make the glass look unsightly or even crack, they are thinner and suitable for many uses and facade designs.
It is easy to customize the size of this type of glass, and these can be used in many construction projects. They are ideal replacement windows for any building that is undergoing innovation, and they are also ideal innovations for old buildings. Even historical buildings can now consider replacing windows safely while improving energy efficiency.
Therefore, vacuum-insulated glass is smaller in weight and volume, and provides the energy efficiency required by regulations, helping people to fulfill their desire to protect the earth and its resources.
In the era of dual carbon goals, with the continuous upgrading of building energy-saving design standards, the thermal requirements of doors and windows are getting higher and higher. The energy-saving functions of door and window products of many manufacturers have not met the requirements. If equipped with vacuum glass products, it can immediately improve the functions of doors and windows and meet the requirements of design standards. We suggest popularizing vacuum glass products in more energy-saving buildings to contribute to energy-saving and consumption reduction and the realization of dual carbon goals!
