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For supermarket display cases, household refrigerators and wine coolers, glass doors serve two essential purposes: they showcase products and help maintain the desired internal temperature. However, they can also be a major source of energy loss and condensation. Continuous heat transfer through the door forces the compressor to work harder, increasing energy consumption. Meanwhile, when a cold glass surface meets warm, humid air, condensation and fogging can obscure the contents and compromise product presentation.
Traditional insulating glass relies on an air- or gas-filled cavity to reduce heat transfer. Yet in refrigeration applications involving large temperature differences and high humidity, its performance may still be limited.
LandVac Titanium Vacuum Insulated Glass (VIG) uses a vacuum cavity to significantly suppress gas convection and conduction between the glass panes. With a U-value as low as 0.4 W/(m²·K), it helps reduce heat transfer through the door while addressing two key challenges in refrigeration appliances: high energy consumption and condensation.
How can vacuum insulated glass improve refrigeration performance? The following three questions explore its key benefits.
LandVac Titanium Vacuum Insulated Glass offers a solution to two major challenges in refrigeration appliances: energy consumption and condensation.
Improved energy efficiency: With a U-value as low as 0.4 W/(m²·K), LandVac VIG can reduce heat loss or heat gain through the door by more than 30% compared with traditional insulating glass, helping reduce compressor workload and potentially extend its service life.
Reduced condensation: By suppressing heat transfer through the vacuum cavity, VIG helps maintain a more favourable glass surface temperature. According to the stated application performance, it can remain condensation-free under conditions as low as −25°C, potentially eliminating the need for additional electric anti-condensation heating.
Clearer product presentation: LandVac's optimised support-pillar spacing helps maintain the structural integrity of the vacuum cavity while improving the visual presentation of products inside refrigerated display cabinets.
More stable temperature control: In professional wine cabinets and cigar cabinets, LandVac VIG supports precise temperature management, with temperature fluctuations controlled within 0.5°C according to the stated application performance, helping create a stable storage environment.
LandVac VIG has been adopted in high-end refrigeration product lines by brands including Haier, BSH and Ronshen.
Condensation occurs when water vapour in the air comes into contact with a surface that is below the air's dew point. The vapour then condenses into liquid droplets, creating a fogged appearance.
In traditional insulating glass, the air or gas-filled cavity still allows some heat transfer through conduction and convection. Depending on the operating conditions, the glass surface can become cold enough to fall below the surrounding air's dew point, resulting in condensation.
Vacuum insulated glass works differently. Its evacuated cavity significantly suppresses gas conduction and convection between the panes, reducing heat transfer through the glazing. This helps maintain a more favourable temperature on the exposed glass surface and can reduce the likelihood of condensation when the surface temperature remains above the dew point.
Under the stated test conditions of an ambient temperature of 32°C and relative humidity of 80%, the vacuum glass reportedly remained clear and free of visible fogging. Even when the refrigeration unit operates at −50°C, the glass surface is reported to remain 3–5°C above the dew point, preventing the surface conditions required for condensation.
Actual anti-condensation performance depends on the glazing configuration, indoor and outdoor temperatures, relative humidity, edge conditions and installation details. Product-specific test data should be used to verify performance under the intended operating conditions.
The following example uses a model of a supermarket to illustrate the potential energy savings from replacing conventional glazing in refrigeration display doors.
Assumptions
Total glass door area: 300 m²
Internal cabinet temperature: −5°C
Ambient indoor temperature: 25°C
Temperature difference: 30°C
Operating schedule: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
The estimated annual electricity consumption is as follows:
| Glazing type | U-value (W/(m²·K)) | Estimated annual electricity consumption |
|---|---|---|
| LandVac vacuum insulated glass | 0.45 | 35,478 kWh |
| Traditional insulating glass | 2.6 | 204,984 kWh |
| Single-pane glass | 5.5 | 433,620 kWh |
Based on these model estimates, vacuum insulated glass can reduce annual electricity consumption attributable to the glazing by approximately 83% compared with traditional insulating glass and up to 92% compared with single-pane glass.
These figures illustrate the potential energy-saving benefits of improving the thermal performance of refrigeration display doors. Actual savings will depend on the glazing area, cabinet design, refrigeration system efficiency, operating conditions and other factors. The figures should therefore be treated as model-based estimates rather than guaranteed savings for every installation.
From reducing energy consumption to helping prevent condensation, vacuum insulated glass can transform refrigeration glazing from a potential weak point into a performance advantage.
For commercial display cabinets, household refrigerators, wine coolers and other temperature-controlled appliances, LandVac Titanium Vacuum Insulated Glass offers a way to combine thermal insulation, clear product visibility and more efficient operation in a slim glazing solution.
LandVac — Beyond Glass. Built to Protect.
