PROJECT ECOnanoVIP

Study of thermal properties and reduced life cycle impact of alternative hybrid eco-nanomaterials under low pressure

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Vacuum insulation panels (VIP) represent a new type of advanced materials with an extremely low thermal conductivity value, in the range of 5 – 10 times lower than conventional thermal insulation materials. Most VIPs on the market are produced with core insulators based on fumed/pyrogenic SiO2 (silica) or ultrafine glass fibres. Due to the desirable relation between thermal conductivity and internal gas pressure, fumed silica VIPs are most commonly used in the building sector. Despite their desirable thermal properties, fumed silica core vacuum insulation has been shown to exert a higher environmental impact than alternative core materials and conventional building thermal insulators (e.g. mineral wool, polystyrene). Additionally, VIPs with fumed silica core exert a high purchase price (approx. 3,000.00 EUR/m3). Therefore it is of great interest to develop novel VIP core materials with advantageous cost-related and, most importantly, environmental impacts. A promising solution are hybrid fumed silica core materials combined with ultrafine fibres sourced from waste products of industrial output streams. Therefore, the proposed project will evaluate the thermal properties of alternative hybrid eco-nanomaterials suitable for VIP core (low pressure, vacuum, environment). The evaluation of eco-nanomaterial behaviour will be based on laboratory measurements, comparison of mathematical models and semi-scale experiments under actual conditions. Besides the study of physical properties and in order to develop a sustainable solution, life cycle modelling is going to be applied, with a particular focus on reducing the environmental impact. For this, the life cycle assessment (LCA) method is going to be used. To evaluate the life cycle impact holistically, the VIP will be evaluated in the context of building applications. A substantial knowledge gap has been identified on this subject, as there are only a handful of studies that evaluate VIPs’ environmental impact in buildings. The research of the environmental impact of VIP in the context of building applications is going to be based on 3D building models and state of the art simulation software (energy, LCA). Besides variation of VIP “in use” scenarios, additional study parameters that influence the building energy demand will be evaluated, including VIP aging scenarios, climate, and climate change. With this approach, besides filling the identified knowledge gaps related to VIPs, this project will illustrate the potential of applying the life cycle thinking approach and using the LCA method in material research, product and building design. In this way, the research is going to contribute to the sustainability of the building sector.

PROJECT SCHEDULE:

RESEARCH TEAM:

• Mitja Košir
• David Božiček
• Katja Malovrh Rebec
• Anja Lešek

FORMER TEAM MEMBERS:

• Sabina Jordan
• Tajda Potrč Obrecht

PUBLICATIONS:

Original article:

ZACH, Jiří, NOVÁK, Vítězslav, PETERKOVÁ, Jitka, BUBENÍK, Jan, KOŠIR, Mitja, BOŽIČEK, David, KREJZA, Zdeněk. The use of advanced environmentally friendly systems in the insulation and reconstruction of buildings. Buildings. [Online ed.]. feb. 2023, št. 2/404, letn. 13, str. 1-15, ilustr. ISSN 2075-5309. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/2/404, https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?id=146465, https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?id=146465, DOI: 10.3390/buildings13020404.

Review article:

BOŽIČEK, David, PETERKOVÁ, Jitka, ZACH, Jiří, KOŠIR, Mitja. Vacuum insulation panels: An overview of research literature with an emphasis on environmental and economic studies for building applications. Renewable & sustainable energy reviews : an international journal. [Print ed.]. Jan. 2024, vol. 189, [article no.] 113849, str. 1-18, ilustr. ISSN 1364-0321. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032123007074?via%3Dihub, DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2023.113849.

Conference papers:

ZACH, Jiří, PETERKOVÁ, Jitka, NOVÁK, Vítězslav, BUBENÍK, Jan, KOŠIR, Mitja, BOŽIČEK, David. Study of the possibility of using vacuum insulation panels in building construction in comparison with conventional insulators. V: BOHÁ, Martin (ur.). International conference building materials, products and technologies (ICBMPT 2023) : 23/05/2023 – 25/05/2023 Telč, Czechia. Bristol: Institute of Physics Publishing, 2023. Str. 1-12, ilustr. Journal of physics. Conference series (Online), Vol. 2568, 2023. ISSN 1742-6596. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/2568/1/012011/pdf, DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/2568/1/012011.

ZACH, Jiří, NOVÁK, Vítězslav, PETERKOVÁ, Jitka, BUBENÍK, Jan, KOŠIR, Mitja, BOŽIČEK, David. Life cycle study of superinsulating materials for use in construction and other industrial areas. V: BOHÁČ, Martin (ur.). International conference building materials, products and technologies : 06/06/2022 – 09/06/2022 Telc, Czechia. Bristol: Institute of Physics Publishing, 2022. Str. 1-8, ilustr. Journal of physics. Conference series (Online), Vol. 2341, 2022. ISSN 1742-6596. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/2341/1/012018/pdf, DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/2341/1/012018.

FINANCING INFORMATION AND LOGOS OF THE MAIN FINANCERS:

The project is funded by the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) under the call “Public call for the financing of the Slovenian part of Weave joint bilateral or trilateral research projects, where GA ČR (Grantová Agentura České Republiky) serves as the lead agency”
Type of the research project: Basic Project – 226118,88 EUR
Project title: Study of thermal properties and reduced life cycle impact of alternative hybrid eco-nanomaterials under low pressure
Acronym: ECOnanoVIP
Project No.: N2-0258
Project duration: 3 years, 1. 3. 2022 – 28. 2. 2025