Published attempts to use VIPs (Vacuum Insulation Panels) to improve the thermal performance of cool boxes had found that VIPs do not yield their expected benefits, often only realising 2.5 to 3 times the improvement over PU (Polyurethane) rather than the expected 5 fold benefit (Kacimi and Labranque, 2011; Brown et al., 2007). Later work (Hammond and Micic, 2013) relating to ULT (Ultra low temperature) freezers showed that around 86% of the expected benefit of VIPs would be realised though embedding them into the wall of the PU foam. This paper expands previous work with ULT systems by embedding VIPs into a PU foamed cavity of a multi temperature commercial service refrigerator/freezer and presents the test results of the cabinet in both modes of operation. The resulting reduction in energy consumption was then measured to estimate payback periods. The overall thermal conductivity was calculated for the insulation the cabinet, with and without VIPs inset. The measured thermal performance was then assessed based on energy consumption measured in a temperature controlled test chamber.
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