Problem 6

A pipe (see figure for data) carrying hot water through a

covered section of a chemical processing plant has been
identified for extra insulation in order to save money on energy
expenditure. The water heats the wall to 95 C. You are the plant
engineer who is to decide on the insulation specification for the
job. Your first step is to identify the heat energy lost per m length
of the existing pipe set-up. Identify a simple thermal circuit.
Calculate the thermal resistances. Calculate the heat loss per m
length of pipe. Assume that ambient temperature to be 12 C

Figure. Original pipe and

lagging with convective
cooling to air at 12 C

95 C

12 C

Identify a simple thermal circuit

95 C

12 C

conduction

R pipe

conduction

convection

Rlagging

Rconvection

Calculate the thermal resistances.

Rconduction

ln(b / a )

2kH

R pipe

ln(12 / 10)

0.0007254
2 40 1

Rlagging
Rconvection

h Asurface

ln(16 / 12)

0.45786
2 0.1 1

router (16 / 2) / 1000 0.008 m

Asurface 2 router 1 2 0.008 1
0.05026 m 2

Rconvection

3.97887
5 0.05026

in K/W per m length

Calculate the heat loss per m length of pipe.

T
Requivalent

Requivalent R pipe Rlagging Rconvection

Requivalent 0.0007254 0.45786 3.97887 4.43746
(95 12)
Q
18.7044
4.43746

W per m length

Heat loss for the original pipe and lagging

The heat loss is to be reduced by replacing the lagging on

the pipe. Your plant manager suggests that the budget
available will be sufficient to give a total of 10 mm thickness
of insulation of poly vinyl acetate / cork spray-on foam
(thermal conductivity k=0.1 W/K m). You are to demonstrate
the predicted energy savings. Calculate the new heat loss
per m length of pipe.

Calculate the thermal resistances.

Rconduction

ln(b / a )

2kH

R pipe

ln(12 / 10)

0.0007254
2 40 1

Rlagging
Rconvection

h Asurface

ln(32 / 12)

1.56104
2 0.1 1

router (32 / 2) / 1000 0.016 m

Asurface 2 router 1 2 0.016 1
0.100531 m 2

Rconvection

1.98944
5 0.100531

in K/W per m length

Calculate the heat loss per m length of pipe.

T
Requivalent

Requivalent R pipe Rlagging Rconvection

Requivalent 0.0007254 1.56104 1.98944 3.5512
(95 12)
Q
23.3724
3.5512

W per m length

Heat loss for the new pipe and lagging

Increasing the lagging thickness increases the

surface area for convective heat loss more than the
conductive heat loss is reduced by increasing the
lagging thickness. Recommend to the plant manager
that if this is all the extra lagging that can be
afforded, it is not worth re-lagging the pipe.