Heat Loss from Insulated Pipe ChE Guide Page 1 of 7

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(https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/)

HEAT LOSS FROM INSULATED PIPE

By CheGuide (Https://Cheguide.com/Author/Anukat/) | December 19, 2015
(Https://Cheguide.com/2015/12/Heat-Loss-From-Insulated-Pipe/) |

Heat loss/gain takes place from a pipe carrying hotter/ colder fluid than ambient temperature. Insulation
reduces the heat loss to surroundings. Heat loss depends upon number of factors like insulation
thickness, ambient temperature, wind speed etc. This article shows how to calculate heat loss from an
insulated pipe and a bare pipe to surroundings.

Example
A 3 Carbon steel pipe is carrying hot oil at 180C and insulated with 50 mm thick calcium silicate insulation.
Insulation is cladded with a sheet with surface emissivity of 0.9. Ambient temperature is 28C and wind
velocity is 3.5 m/s. Calculate surface temperature and heat loss from insulated and bare pipe.

Overall heat transfer coefficient of an insulated pipe is defined as following.

where, kPIPE, kINSULATION are thermal conductivity of pipe and insulation. hin is heat transfer coefficient for
fluid flowing in pipe and hair is heat transfer coefficient due to air flowing outside the pipe. The first two
terms of denominator in above equation are generally smaller compared to remaining terms and can be
neglected. For this example first term due to pipe fluid is ignored.

Air Side Heat Transfer Coefficient, hAIR

Air side heat transfer is due to combined effect of convection and radiation. Assume a temperature at
cladding surface t_surface and steel pipe surface t_interface. Calculate average air film temperature as
following.

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Heat Loss from Insulated Pipe ChE Guide Page 2 of 7

t_average = ( t_surface + t_ambient )/ 2

Estimate thermodynamic properties of air like thermal conductivity (k), viscosity (), expansion coefficient
( = 1/t_average), air density (), kinematic viscosity (), specific heat (Cp) and thermal diffusivity () at
average air film temperature. These properties are available in literature in form of tables, these can be
fitted into a polynomial form using excels LINEST function. Reynoldss number (Re), Prandtl number (Pr)
and Rayleigh number (Ra) are calculated based on above properties.

h_radiation
Heat transfer coefficient due to radiation is calculated using following relation.

h_radiation = (t_surface4 t_ambient4)/ (t_surface t_ambient)

where is Stefan Boltzmann coefficient and is emissivity for cladded surface.

h_convection
Convective heat transfer coefficient comprises of forced and free convection. Forced convection can be
modeled based on correlation by Churchill and Bernstein.

h_forced = Nu.k_air / D3

Free convection is calculated based on correlation by Churchill and Chu.

h_free = Nu.k_air / D3

Combined heat transfer coefficient due to forced and free convection is calculated using following
relation.

Nu_combined = ( Nu_forced 4 + Nu_free 4) 0.25

h_convection = Nu_combined.k_air / D3

Air side heat transfer coefficient is calculated as following.

h_air = h_radiation + h_convection

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient, U

Thermal conductivity for insulation material and pipe is available in literature and depends upon
temperature. It can be fitted into a polynomial equation using LINEST function in excel. Heat transfer
resistance due to pipe and insulation is calculated using following relation.

r_pipe = D3.ln(D2/D1) / 2.k_pipe

r_insulation = D3.ln(D3/D2) / 2.k_insulation

Overall heat transfer coefficient is calculated as.

r_overall = r_pipe + r_insulation + 1/h_air

U = 1/r_overall

Heat flowing through insulation is estimated.

Q = (t_operating t_ambient)/r_overall

A revised estimate for interface and surface temperature is made.

t_interface = t_operating Q.r_pipe

t_surface = t_interface Q.r_insulation

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Above steps are repeated with these new estimates till there is negligible difference in temperature.

Heat loss per unit length of pipe is estimated as following.

HeatLoss = D3 Q

Bare Pipe
For heat loss from bare pipe all above steps are repeated with resistance due to insulation not considered.

r_pipe = D2.ln(D2/D1) / 2.k_pipe

r_overall = r_pipe + 1/h_air

For this example surface temperature and heat loss are as following.

Spreadsheet for Heat Loss from Insulated Pipe (https://cheguide.com/wp-

content/uploads/2016/07/Heat_Loss_Insulated_Pipe.xlsx)

0 (https://twitter.com/sh
are)

Heat Transfer Bare Pipe (Https://Cheguide.com/Tag/Bare-

(Https://Cheguide.com/Category/Heat-Transfer/)
Pipe/), Convection
(Https://Cheguide.com/Tag/Convection/), Heat
Loss (Https://Cheguide.com/Tag/Heat-Loss/),
Insulated Pipe
(Https://Cheguide.com/Tag/Insulated-Pipe/),
Radiation (Https://Cheguide.com/Tag/Radiation/)

28 Replies to Heat Loss from Insulated

Pipe

Hidrotete says:

January 20, 2016 at 4:10 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-58)

In the calculation of the overall heat transfer coefficient. We have 4 resistance: fluid, pipe,
insulation and air. , I think it is required the Hconvection of the fluid, doesnt it? I dont know a
correlation inside the pipe but I think it is required. does anybody agree with me?

CheGuide says:

January 20, 2016 at 11:12 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-59)

For above calculations, resistance due to fluid is ignored as it is generally small compared
to other terms for turbulent flow inside pipe. But Hconvection can always be added in
overall heat transfer coefficient as mentioned below :

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John Shinas says:

March 3, 2016 at 9:12 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-450)

Do you have an example made up for multiple layers of insulation? That would be very helpful if
you do.Ive been trying to come up with my own spreadsheet and am having a hard time matching
the results of another program that has to be purchased.Any help you can provide would be great

Tom Do (http://www.enersul.com/) says:

May 21, 2016 at 3:14 am (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1144)

Hi, for Heat Loss From An Insulated Pipe spreadsheet, can you please let me know what the five
cases shown on the calculation sheet are? For the first case (cell G20), surface temperature is equal
to Ambient Temperature + 1.For the second case (cell H20), surface temperature equal to cell G56.
and so on for the other three cases.What do these 5 cases represent?

thank you.
Tom

CheGuide says:

May 21, 2016 at 9:48 am (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1148)

Iteration is required to calculate surface temperature, as a first guess it is taken as ambient
temperature + 1, later on it is recalculated in the calculation and used as initial value for
next iteration.5 cases represent iteration with different surface temperatures.After 5
iterations when there is no change in surface temperature, it gives the final calculated
value.

Tom Do (http://www.enersul.com/) says:

May 23, 2016 at 8:00 am (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1165)

much appreciated.

Regards
Tom

JUNG says:

June 21, 2016 at 4:57 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1484)

In case the pipe is buried in underground, how can I calculate the heat loss?
Do I just apply thermal conductivity of soil instead of air?
how can I assume heat transfer area for soil?
Please, give me your answer.

CheGuide says:

June 26, 2016 at 11:49 am (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1529)

Soil will act as insulating material and its thermal conductivity can be used for heat transfer
calculation.

Xiaoqi says:

July 4, 2016 at 7:55 am (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1613)

Can I use this calculation sheet under the heat gain case with colder fluid in the pipe ?

Thank you

CheGuide says:

July 9, 2016 at 12:58 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1639)

Same calculation can be used for colder fluid in pipe.

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Xiaoqi says:

July 4, 2016 at 8:12 am (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1614)

I think the following equation maybe some mistake:

h_radiation = (t_average4 t_ambient4)/ (t_average t_ambient)

If is emissivity for cladded surface.Then I think the equation should be like this:

h_radiation = (t_surface4 t_ambient4)/ (t_surface4 t_ambient)

In this equation, we calculate the radiation heat transferring between cladding surface and the
ambient.

Do you agree with me ? @CheGuide

Thanks

CheGuide says:

July 9, 2016 at 1:40 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1641)

Thanks for finding the error in equation, we have corrected the formula and the attached
spreadsheet.

BHUBESH CHANDRA says:

July 7, 2016 at 9:46 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1627)

WHAT IS THE DENSITY OF MINERAL WOOL IN THE THE HEAT LOSS CALCULATOR? PLEASE DO
REPLY.

CheGuide says:

July 9, 2016 at 1:08 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1640)

Mineral wool density is 430 kg/m3

BHUBESH CHANDRA says:

July 9, 2016 at 4:56 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1644)

Thank you so much for answering.
Sir, I want to calculate the heat loss at density 120 kg/cu.m and 150 kg/cu.m of the
insulation material and having pressure 3 kg/sq.cm.of oil.
So how can I do that?
can you please tell me the relation between density and heat transfer because it will
be easy for me to calculate.

CheGuide says:

July 11, 2016 at 10:02 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-

pipe/#comment-1662)
Heat transfer depends on thermal conductivity of insulation material and not
on density.In above equations density of insulation is not used.

BHUBESH CHANDRA says:

July 9, 2016 at 5:05 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1645)

sir can you please confirm it is 430 kg /cu.m.

CheGuide says:

July 11, 2016 at 10:04 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-

pipe/#comment-1663)
We have taken a sample insulation material available in the reference text
book Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer (2007), Frank P Incropera.
You need to find and consider properties of insulation material being used.

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BHUBESH CHANDRA says:

July 9, 2016 at 5:14 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1646)

sir also clarify the unit of heat loss BTU/h/ft used in the calculatorthat it BTU/h/ft or BTU/h/ sq.ft

CheGuide says:

July 11, 2016 at 10:07 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1664)

Calculator gives heat loss per unit length of pipe.

BHUBESH CHANDRA says:

July 12, 2016 at 10:50 am (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1669)

Thank you so much for answering my questions and sharing your knowledge.

Mechanical Engineer says:

August 1, 2016 at 11:36 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1843)

This spreadsheet is nicely done.I like the curve fitting.
1) This spreadsheet will work for compressible fluid (air) in the pipe.Correct? (Perhaps adding the
convective thermal resistance on the inside of the pipe would be wise in that case).
2) It appears that k_pipe cells G88:K88 are missing the ^4 term from the Properties tab, although
the number appears to be negligible.Please confirm that the ^4 term should be added.
3) What is the purpose of cells G19:K20? I20:K:30 say NA.None of these appear to be used by other
cells.The same question applies ot the 2nd & 3rd rows of curve fitting coefficients on the
Air_Properties sheet.
4) I suggest adding a short note near the 1st instance, indicating that the . in your equations
indicates multiplication.For instance, it would help people to easily understand r_pipe = D3.ln
(D2/D1) / 2.k_pipe.Its easy enough to figure out when you already know what the equation would
look like, but for those who dont

Mechanical Engineer says:

August 1, 2016 at 11:46 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-1844)

Please ignore question 2 above.I see that the insulation and air properties use a 4th order
polynomial fit, but the pipe uses a 3rd order fit.Adding a ^4 term is not needed.

Dennis Frijsinger says:

August 31, 2016 at 3:08 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-2225)

In the second and consequtive iteration the surface temperature of the bare pipe is taken from the
calculated interface temperature.

Is it not better to calculate this in each iteration using:

Interface Temp Heat Flow x Insulation Resistance

Humberto says:

March 23, 2017 at 8:42 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-4862)

Hello

Heat Losses differ a little bit from the Website counterpart.Is it due to the Wind Speed? If so, is
there a standard wind speed you use for the website calcs?

Thanks!

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A says:

April 11, 2017 at 5:01 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-5052)

Hi! U is different from Temperature difference over resistance.
If Im not wrong there should be a 1/2pi factor to the overall resistance formula.

Andrew says:

April 26, 2017 at 9:13 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-5119)

Thanks for the calc.Its very useful.What should I do to change the insulation material? Thanks,

CheGuide says:

April 26, 2017 at 9:45 pm (https://cheguide.com/2015/12/heat-loss-from-insulated-pipe/#comment-5121)

Thermal conductivity of insulation material needs to be changed in properties sheet to use
different insulation material.

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