All-in-one design and fabrication of vacuum insulation panels for ultra-efficient pipeline thermal management

Effective thermal insulation is vital for minimizing heat loss in high-temperature pipeline systems. Conventional insulation materials, such as glass wool and polyurethane (PU) foam, are limited by high thermal conductivities (0.023-0.04 W/(m & sdot;K)) and bulky structures. Here, we introduce an all-in-one design and fabrication approach for special-shaped vacuum insulation panels (VIPs), achieving an ultra-low thermal conductivity of 0.0017 W/ (m & sdot;K). The developed process enables the production of cylindrical VIPs for pipeline insulation while effectively mitigating thermal bridging effects. A double-layer VIP structure with staggered gaps further enhances insulation performance, significantly reducing heat loss. Infrared imaging confirms superior thermal efficiency, with outer surface temperatures as low as 9.5 degrees C, compared to 35 degrees C for traditional glass wool insulation. This scalable approach offers a promising solution for ultra-efficient pipeline thermal management.