Sample Problem Statement

Determine the minimum insulation thickness required for a pipe carrying steam at
1800C. The pipe size is 8" and the maximum allowable temperature of outer wall of
insulation is 500C. Thermal conductivity of the insulation material for the
temperature range of the pipe can be taken as 0.04 W/mK. The heat loss from
steam per meter of pipe length has to be limited to 80 W/m.

Solution

Solution to this sample problem is quite straightforward

as demonstrated below.
As per EnggCyclopedia's heat conduction article,
For radial heat transfer by conduction across a cylindrical wall, the heat transfer
rate is expressed by following equation,

For the given sample problem,

T1 = 500C
T2 = 1800C
r1 = 8" = 8 0.0254 m = 0.2032 m
k = 0.04 W/mK
N = length of the cylinder

Q/N = Heat loss per unit length of pipe

Q/N = 80 W/m
Hence, inserting the given numbers in the radial heat transfer rate equation from
above,
80 = 2 0.04 (180-50) ln(r2/0.2032)
ln(r2/0.2032) = 2 0.04 (180-50) / 80 = 0.4084
Hence, r2/= r1 e0.4084
r2/= 0.2032 1.5044 = 0.3057 m
Hence, insulation thickness = r2 - r1
thickness = 305.7 - 203.2 = 102.5 mm

Other Examples and online programs can be found at:

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/heat-loss-pipes-tanks-t_15.html