Vacuum insulated appliance with pressure monitoring

A method of measuring pressure within a vacuum insulated cabinet structure, the method comprising the steps of:

• (i) providing a vacuum insulated cabinet structure having a storage compartment and an insulating space positioned between interior and exterior walls of the storage compartment, a first temperature sensor positioned on the interior wall of the storage compartment, a second temperature sensor positioned on the exterior wall of the storage compartment, a third temperature sensor positioned outside of the storage compartment;
• (ii) sensing a first temperature level of the interior wall of the storage compartment using the first temperature sensor;
• (iii) sensing a second temperature level of the exterior wall of the storage compartment using the second temperature sensor;
• (iv) calculating a first temperature differential between the second temperature level and the first temperature level;
• (v) sensing an ambient temperature level for an environment in which the storage compartment is disposed using the third temperature sensor;
• (vi) calculating an overall heat transfer coefficient (Q) using the ambient temperature level, the second temperature level, and a convective heat transfer coefficient for the exterior wall of the storage compartment;
• (vii) determining a first conductivity level (K) using the first temperature differential, the overall heat transfer coefficient (Q) and a thickness of the insulating space;
• and
• (viii) determining a first pressure level (P) within the insulating space using the first conductivity level (K).

A method of measuring insulation performance on a vacuum insulated cabinet structure, the method comprising the steps of:

• (i) providing a vacuum insulated cabinet structure having an insulation space surrounding a storage compartment, a first temperature sensor positioned on a first side of the insulation space, a second temperature sensor positioned on a second side of the insulation space, a third temperature sensor positioned within the storage compartment, and a controller operably coupled to the first, second and third temperature sensors;
• (ii) sensing a first temperature level (T1) using the first temperature sensor;
• (iii) sensing a second temperature level (T2) using the second temperature sensor;
• (iv) calculating a temperature differential (ΔT) by subtracting the first temperature level (T1) from the second temperature level (T2);
• (v) sensing an ambient temperature level (Ti) within the storage compartment using the third temperature sensor;
• (vi) calculating an overall heat transfer coefficient (Q) using the ambient temperature level (Ti), the first temperature level (T1), and a convective heat transfer coefficient for the first side of the storage compartment;
• and
• (vii) determining a first conductivity level (K) using the temperature differential (ΔT), the overall heat transfer coefficient (Q) and a thickness of the insulating space.