Abstract: A vacuum insulating panel comprise a first sheet of a flexible material, a second sheet of a flexible material and a bridging element of a flexible material extending in a generally rectilinear waveform between the first and the second sheets. The bridging element and the sheets define therebetween a plurality of separate generally rectilinear evacuated compartments containing a self-supporting insulating element. The bridging element comprise first flat regions extending along the inside face of the first sheet, second flat regions extending along the inside face of the second sheet, and connecting regions extending between the first and second flat regions, There are seals between the flat regions of the bridging element and the inside face of the sheets. If one compartment is punctured only that compartment is affected. The seals prevent loss of vacuum in adjacent compartments.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a composite insulated panel (1) comprising the steps of: providing a first sheet (2); cutting a hole (7) in the first sheet (2) to accommodate a photovoltaic solar collector module (8); inserting the solar collector module (8) into the cut-out hole; sealing the solar collector module to the first sheet (2); providing a second sheet (3), the second sheet having an opening therein to receive a connector housing (22); leading electrical connections from the solar collector module through the connector housing; and providing a body (4) of insulating material between the inner face of the second sheet and the inner face of the first sheet and the inner face of the photovoltaic solar collector module.

Abstract: A solar collector comprises a solar absorbing tube 3 containing elongate tube 11 that extends out of one end of the solar absorbing tube 3 and into an end fitting 15 wherein an annular outer passageway 13 of the elongate tube 11 communicates with a cold fluid inlet conduit 16 within the end fitting 15 and the inner passageway 14 of the elongate tube 11 communicates with a hot water outlet conduit 17 within the end fitting 15. Each end fitting 15 is provided with a receiving portion 22 extending orthogonally to the tubular passage 18 for receiving an end of the concentric elongated tube 11. The end fittings 15 are interconnected to provide fluid flow paths without the need for a manifold. Any number of solar collector tubes can be interconnected in this way. The invention also applies solar collectors of the heat pipe type.

Abstract: A solar collector comprises a solar absorbing tube comprising enclosure enclosing an absorbing section, comprising a radiation absorbing plate and a tube, containing a working fluid in thermal contact with the plate. The tube extends out of one end of the tube and connects with a condenser wherein the thermal transfer fluid when in a vapour phase communicates with a fluid to be heated within an end fitting. The condenser of a tube is inserted into a thermal pocket sealingly engaged with a gasket within the pipe receiving portion of the fitting, whereby heat transfer can take place between the condensers of the pipes and a fluid flowing via path in the fitting. The pocket is sealed against ingress of heat exchange fluid flowing through the fitting.

Abstract: A solar collector comprises a solar absorbing tube 3 containing elongate tube 11 that extends out of one end of the solar absorbing tube 3 and into an end fitting 15 wherein an annular outer passageway 13 of the elongate tube 11 communicates with a cold fluid inlet conduit 16 within the end fitting 15 and the inner passageway 14 of the elongate tube 11 communicates with a hot water outlet conduit 17 within the end fitting 15. Each end fitting 15 is provided with a receiving portion 22 extending orthogonally to the tubular passage 18 for receiving an end of the concentric elongated tube 11. The end fittings 15 are interconnected to provide fluid flow paths without the need for a manifold. Any number of solar collector tubes can be interconnected in this way. The invention also applies solar collectors of the heat pipe type.

Abstract: An access floor panel is disclosed that has a top plate with a plurality of non-directional air passageways intermingled with a plurality of directional air passageways. The directional air passageways are configured to direct airflow through them at an angle to the upper surface of the top plate of other than 90°. The directional air passageways include an opening in the top plate and a tab adjacent to each opening that is at an angle with respect to top surface of the top plate of other than 90°. Due to the intermingling of the non-directional air passageways and the directional air passageways, the composite air flow direction through the non-directional air passageways and the directional air passageways is at an angle with the top plate of other than 90°.

Abstract: An access floor panel is provided that includes a support frame that supports a phase change material. The phase change material changes phases at a certain temperature. The support frame may form a shell having a cavity. The cavity may be filled with the phase change material or with a mixture of the phase change material and a fill material. The access floor panels can be every panel in an access floor system or selected panels in the system.

Abstract: A prefabricated composite insulation board comprises a facing of a flexible sheet material and a plurality of vacuum insulation panels (VIP) adhesive bonded thereto. A body of insulating foam overlies the vacuum insulating panels and the carrier. There are gaps between adjacent vacuum insulation panels and these gaps are filled with the foam. Alternatively, groups of VIP's may be positioned close to one another and gaps left at defined locations. These gaps may be used to provide regions at which the panel may be cut to a desired length without cutting through and VIP's. External markings such as cut-lines may be provided to indicated the location of these gaps.

Abstract: A cooling system for selectively cooling the hot aisles of a data center is disclosed. The cooling system includes a source of cooling air, a relief damper configured to selectively allow cooling air from the source of cooling air to enter directly into the hot aisle, and a mechanism to move the relief damper between open and closed positions.

Abstract: A phenolic foam is made by foaming and curing a foamable phenolic resin composition that comprises a phenolic resin, a blowing agent, an acid catalyst and an inorganic filler. The blowing agent comprises a blend of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon containing 2 to 5 carbon atoms and an aliphatic hydrocarbon containing from 3 to 6 carbon atoms mixed in a ratio of 60/40 to 5/5 parts by weight. The inorganic filler is at least one selected from a metal hydroxide, a metal oxide, a metal carbonate and a metal powder. The phenolic foam has a pH of 5 or more and a water uptake less than 1 kg/m2. A phenolic foam with a higher pH value compared with conventional phenolic foam reduces corrosion risk when in contact with metallic materials. The phenolic foam maintains excellent long-term stable thermal insulation performance, low water uptake and fire resistance performance and by using the said blowing agent, does not harm the environment as an ozone or global warming depleting material.

Abstract: A phenolic foam is made by foaming and curing a foamable phenolic resin composition that comprises a phenolic resin, a blowing agent, an acid catalyst and an inorganic filler. The blowing agent comprises an aliphatic hydrocarbon containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and the inorganic filler is at least one selected from a metal hydroxide, a metal oxide, a metal carbonate and a metal powder. The phenolic foam has a pH of 5 or more. The phenolic foam has a higher pH value compared with conventional phenolic foam and reduces corrosion risk when in contact with metallic materials. The phenolic foam maintains excellent long-term stable thermal insulation performance, low water uptake and fire resistance performance and by using a hydrocarbon blowing agent, does not harm the environment as an ozone depleting or global warming material.

Abstract: A pipe insulating section includes a generally cylindrical hollow phenolic foam body of substantially uniform cross section with an inner facing web and an outer facing web. The phenolic foam body is slit longitudinally to provide section halves which can be opened to facilitate wrapping around a pipe to insulate the pipe. The section halves are linked by the outer web at one side and facing ends of the section halves at the other end are faced with the inner facing web. The inner web may be of paper and the other web may be of an aluminum foil. An apparatus used in manufacturing the elongate shaped phenolic section includes an outer mold for forming the outer facing into a cylindrical shape and an inner mandrel for forming the inner facing into a cylindrical shape, which is of smaller diameter than that of the cylinder defined by the outer facing. The facings define a hollow core therebetween into which liquid foam reactants are injected through an injector.

Abstract: A solar collector includes a solar absorbing tube containing an elongate tube that extends out of one end of the solar absorbing tube and into an end fitting. An annular outer passageway of the elongate tube communicates with a cold fluid inlet conduit within the end fitting. An inner passageway of the elongate tube communicates with a hot water outlet conduit within the end fitting. Each end fitting 15 is provided with a receiving portion extending orthogonally to the tubular passage for receiving an end of the concentric elongated tube. The end fittings are interconnected to provide fluid flow paths without the need for a manifold. Any number of solar collector tubes can be interconnected in this way.

Abstract: An insulating panel (1) comprises a first sheet (2), a second sheet (3) with an insulating foam (4) therebetween. The foam may, for example be a polyurethane foam, polyisocyanurate foam or a phenolic foam. The first and second sheets (2, 3) are metal such as steel, for example a galvanised or coated sheet. At least one reinforcing element (20) is provided within the insulating foam (body (4) and extends between the first and second sheets (2, 3). The reinforcing element (20) extends longitudinally along at least part of the length of the panel (1). For enhanced structural strength there are at least two reinforcing elements (20) which are spaced-apart between the side marginal edges of the panel (1). The reinforcing element (20) comprises a first flange (21), a second flange (22) and a web (23) extending between the flanges. The reinforcing element (20) is adapted to interengage with the insulating foam body (4) during manufacture.

Abstract: A roof panel (1) for use in forming a low pitch or flat roof comprises a profiled inner liner or decking sheet (2), an outer waterproof membrane (3) and a body (4) of insulation between the inner liner (2) and outer membrane (3). The membrane liner sheet (3) has a backing such as a fleece or scrim to aid adhesion of the membrane (3) to the foam body. The membrane (3) comprises a side lap (5) extending sidewardly of at least some of the marginal edges of the body (4). The inner liner (2) comprises joint formations for forming a nested side lap joint between adjacent panels. The joint formations comprise a first joint formation (20) at one edge of the liner (2) and a second joint formation (21) on an opposite edge of the panel. The first and second joint formations (20, 21) of adjacent panels are adapted to interengage on assembly and are clinched together using a clinching tool (22) to form a clinched joint (25). The first joint formation (20) comprises a liner extension which is shaped to define a recess.

Abstract: A pedestal head for a floor panel comprises includes a base for a lower part of a floor panel and an upper support for receiving an upper part of a floor panel. The pedestal head has a receiver or projection for receiving and locating a corresponding projection or receiver of the floor panel The pedestal head may be die formed from a single piece of metal.

Abstract: It is disclosed a connecting device for the manufacture of ducts for heating, conditioning, ventilation comprising a plate-like element (2) which is provided, on a face (2a) thereof at opposite positions, with at least two hooking points (3) adapted to penetrate contiguous portions to be joined of a duct (4) segment or of two consecutive duct segments. Also provided is a connecting process comprising a step of applying at least one connecting device (19 on either side of a junction line (4a) defined by two opposite longitudinal bands of a panel (5) adapted to form a duct (4) segment.

Abstract: A phenolic foam is made by foaming and curing a foamable phenolic resin composition that comprises a phenolic resin, a blowing agent, an acid catalyst and an inorganic filler. The blowing agent comprises an aliphatic hydrocarbon containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and the inorganic filler is at least one selected from a metal hydroxide, a metal oxide, a metal carbonate and a metal powder. The phenolic foam has a pH of 5 or more. The phenolic foam has a higher pH value compared with conventional phenolic foam and reduces corrosion risk when in contact with metallic materials. The phenolic foam maintains excellent long-term stable thermal insulation performance, low water uptake and fire resistance performance and by using a hydrocarbon blowing agent, does not harm the environment as an ozone depleting or global warming material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a foamable resol type phenolic resin forming material comprising a liquid resol type phenolic resin, a foaming agent, a foam stabilizer, an additive and an acid curing agent, said additive containing a nitrogen-containing bridged cyclic compound and said foam stabilizer containing a chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon compound having 2 to 5 carbon atoms, and a phenolic resin foam product obtained by foaming and curing this forming material.