Problems

3-78. A 50 𝑚𝑚 long section of a steam pipe whose outer diameter is 10 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 passes through an open space
at 15℃. The average temperature of the outer surface of the pipe is measured to be 150℃. If the
combined heat transfer coefficient on the outer surface of the pipe is 20 𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚2 𝐾𝐾, determine a) the rate
of heat loss from the steam pipe; b) the annual cost of this energy lost if steam is generated in an
natural gas furnance that has an efficiency of 75% and the price of natural gas is $0.52/𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟
(1 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 = 105,500 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘); and c) the thickness of fiberglass insulation (𝑘𝑘 = 0.035 𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚) needed in
order to save 90% of the heat lost. Assume the pipe temperature to remain constant at 150𝐶𝐶.

150℃

Steam

Fiberglass
insulation

3-96C. What is the critical radius of insulation? How is it defined for a cylindrical layer?

3-97C. Consider an insulated pipe exposed to the atmosphere. Wil the critical radius of insulation be
greater on calm days or on windy days? Why?

3.99. Consider a pipe at constant temperature whose radius is greater than the critical radius of
insulation. Someone claims that the rate of heat loss from the pipe has increased when some insulation
is added to the pipe. Is his claim valid?
3-125. A plane wall with surface temperature of 350℃ is attached with straight rectangular fins (𝑘𝑘 =
235 𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚). The fins are exposed to an ambient air condition of 25℃ and the convection heat ransfer
coefficient is 154 𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚2 𝐾𝐾. Eac fin has a length of 50 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚, a base of 5 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 thick and a width of 100 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚.
Determine the efficiency, heat transfer rate, and effectiveness of each fin, using a) Table 3-3 and b)
Figure 3-43.

3-130. A hot surface at 100℃ is to be cooled by attaching 3 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 long, 0.25 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 diameter aluminum pin
fins (𝑘𝑘 = 237 𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚) to it, with a center-to center distance of 0.6 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐. The temperature of the
surrounding medium is 30𝐶𝐶, and the heat transfer coefficient on the surfaces is 35 𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚2 𝐾𝐾. Determine
the rate of heat transfer from the surface of a 1 𝑚𝑚 × 1𝑚𝑚 section of the plate. Also determine the
overall effectiveness of the fins.
Solutions
3-78.
Assumptions/Givens:
- Steady state, 1D heat transfer
𝑊𝑊
- ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 20
𝑚𝑚2 𝐾𝐾
- 𝑇𝑇𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 150℃, 𝑇𝑇∞ = 15℃
- 𝑘𝑘 = 0.035𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
- 𝐿𝐿 = 50 𝑚𝑚, 𝐷𝐷𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 10 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
Solution:

a) 𝑄𝑄̇ = ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝐴𝐴�𝑇𝑇𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 − 𝑇𝑇∞ � = ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝜋𝜋𝐷𝐷𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝐿𝐿�𝑇𝑇𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 − 𝑇𝑇∞ � =

𝑊𝑊
�20 � (𝜋𝜋)(0.1𝑚𝑚)(50𝑚𝑚)(150 − 15℃) = 42412𝑊𝑊
𝑚𝑚2 𝐾𝐾

b) The amount of heat loss per year is:

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑦𝑦 ℎ𝑟𝑟 𝑠𝑠
𝑄𝑄 = 𝑄𝑄̇∆𝑡𝑡 = 42412𝑊𝑊 �365 � �24 � �3600 � = 1.337 × 109 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘/𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦
𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 ℎ𝑟𝑟
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝑄𝑄 1.337 × 109 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 1 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 $0.52
𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = × 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 = ×� �×
𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 0.75 105500 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒
= $8790/𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦

c) Save 90% of the heat lost, 𝑄𝑄̇ = 10% × 42412𝑊𝑊 = 4241.2𝑊𝑊

�𝑇𝑇𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 − 𝑇𝑇∞ � �𝑇𝑇𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 − 𝑇𝑇∞ �
𝑄𝑄̇ = =
𝑅𝑅𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 + 𝑅𝑅𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 ln �𝑟𝑟2 �
𝑟𝑟1 1
+
2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋 ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝐴𝐴𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
(150 − 15℃)
= 𝑟𝑟2
ln � � 1
0.05 +
2𝜋𝜋(0.035𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)(50𝑚𝑚) 𝑊𝑊
(20 2 )2𝜋𝜋(𝑟𝑟2 )(50𝑚𝑚)
𝑚𝑚 𝐾𝐾
Using guess and chess, 𝑟𝑟2 = 0.0692 𝑚𝑚, so the thickness of the insulation is 𝑟𝑟2 − 𝑟𝑟1 = 0.0692 𝑚𝑚 −
0.05 𝑚𝑚 = 0.0192 𝑚𝑚.
3-96C.

In a cylindrical pipe or a spherical shell, the additional insulation increases the conduction resistance of
insulation, but decreases the convection resistance of the surface because of the increase in the outer
surface area. Due to these opposing effects, a critical radius of insulation is defined as the outer radius
𝑘𝑘
that provides maximum rate of heat transfer. For a cylindrical layer, it is defined as 𝑟𝑟𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 = where 𝑘𝑘 is
ℎ
the thermal conductivity of insulation and ℎ is the external convection heat transfer coefficient.

3-97C.
𝑘𝑘
For a cylindrical pipe, the critical radius of insulation is defined as 𝑟𝑟𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 = . On windy days, the external
ℎ
convection heat transfer coefficient is greater compared to calm days. Therefore critical radius of
insulation will be greater on calm days.

3-99C. No, when radius is past the critical radius of insulation, the rate of heat transfer will decrease with
added insulation.

3-125.

Assumptions/Givens:

- Steady state
- 𝑘𝑘 = 235 𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
- ℎ = 154 𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚2 𝐾𝐾
- 𝑡𝑡 = 5 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚, 𝑤𝑤 = 100 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚, 𝐿𝐿 = 50 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
- 𝑇𝑇∞ = 25℃, 𝑇𝑇𝑏𝑏 = 350℃
Solution:

a) From Table 3-3

𝑊𝑊
(2) �154 � 1
𝑚𝑚 = �2ℎ/𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 = � 𝑚𝑚2 𝐾𝐾 = 16.19
(235 𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)(0.005𝑚𝑚) 𝑚𝑚
𝑡𝑡 0.005𝑚𝑚
𝐿𝐿𝑐𝑐 = 𝐿𝐿 + = 0.05𝑚𝑚 + = 0.0525𝑚𝑚
2 2
𝐴𝐴𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 2𝑤𝑤𝐿𝐿𝑐𝑐 = 2(0.1𝑚𝑚)(0.0525𝑚𝑚) = 0.0105𝑚𝑚2
1
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡ℎ (𝑚𝑚𝐿𝐿𝑐𝑐 ) 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡ℎ (16.19 𝑚𝑚)(0.0525𝑚𝑚)
𝜂𝜂𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = = = 0.813
𝑚𝑚𝐿𝐿𝑐𝑐 1
(16.19 𝑚𝑚)(0.0525𝑚𝑚)
𝑊𝑊
𝑄𝑄̇𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 𝜂𝜂𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 ℎ𝐴𝐴𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 (𝑇𝑇𝑏𝑏 − 𝑇𝑇∞ ) = (0.813) �154 2 � (0.0105𝑚𝑚2 )(350 − 25℃) = 427 𝑊𝑊
𝑚𝑚 𝐾𝐾
 𝑄𝑄̇𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑄𝑄̇𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 427 𝑊𝑊
𝜀𝜀𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = = = = 17.1
ℎ𝐴𝐴𝑏𝑏 (𝑇𝑇𝑏𝑏 − 𝑇𝑇∞ ) ℎ𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡(𝑇𝑇𝑏𝑏 − 𝑇𝑇∞ ) (154 𝑊𝑊 )(0.005𝑚𝑚)(0.1𝑚𝑚)(350 − 25℃)
𝑚𝑚2 𝐾𝐾

b) From Figure 3-43

1
1 2
3
ℎ
2 3 154 𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚2 𝐾𝐾
𝜉𝜉 = 𝐿𝐿2𝑐𝑐 � � = (0.0525𝑚𝑚)2 � � = 0.6
𝑘𝑘𝐴𝐴𝑝𝑝 𝑊𝑊
(235 )(0.0525𝑚𝑚)(0.005𝑚𝑚)
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝜂𝜂𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 0.8
𝑊𝑊
𝑄𝑄̇𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 𝜂𝜂𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 ℎ𝐴𝐴𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 (𝑇𝑇𝑏𝑏 − 𝑇𝑇∞ ) = 0.8 �154 2 � (0.0105𝑚𝑚2 )(350 − 25℃) = 420 𝑊𝑊
𝑚𝑚 𝐾𝐾
𝑄𝑄̇𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑄𝑄̇𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 420 𝑊𝑊
𝜀𝜀𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = = = = 16.8
ℎ𝐴𝐴𝑏𝑏 (𝑇𝑇𝑏𝑏 − 𝑇𝑇∞ ) ℎ𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡(𝑇𝑇𝑏𝑏 − 𝑇𝑇∞ ) (154 𝑊𝑊
)(0.005𝑚𝑚)(0.1𝑚𝑚)(350 − 25℃)
𝑚𝑚2 𝐾𝐾

3-130.

Assumptions/Givens:

- Steady state, constant property

- 𝑘𝑘 = 237 𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
- ℎ = 35 𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚2 𝐾𝐾
- 𝐷𝐷 = 0.0025 𝑚𝑚, 𝐿𝐿 = 0.03 𝑚𝑚
- 𝑇𝑇∞ = 30℃, 𝑇𝑇𝑏𝑏 = 100℃
Solution:

From Table 3-3

𝑊𝑊
4 �35 � 1
𝑚𝑚 = �4ℎ/𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 = � 𝑚𝑚2 𝐾𝐾 = 15.37
(237 𝑊𝑊/𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)(0.0025𝑚𝑚) 𝑚𝑚
𝐷𝐷 0.0024𝑚𝑚
𝐿𝐿𝑐𝑐 = 𝐿𝐿 + = 0.03𝑚𝑚 + = 0.0306 𝑚𝑚
4 4
 1
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡ℎ (𝑚𝑚𝐿𝐿𝑐𝑐 ) 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡ℎ (15.37 𝑚𝑚)(0.0306𝑚𝑚)
𝜂𝜂𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = = = 0.932
𝑚𝑚𝐿𝐿𝑐𝑐 1
(15.37 𝑚𝑚)(0.0306𝑚𝑚)
The number of fins in 1 𝑚𝑚2 is
1𝑚𝑚
𝑛𝑛 = = 27777 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓
(0.006 𝑚𝑚 × 0.006𝑚𝑚)/𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓
𝐴𝐴𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 𝑛𝑛𝜋𝜋𝐷𝐷𝐿𝐿𝑐𝑐 = (27777)𝜋𝜋(0.0025𝑚𝑚)(0.0306𝑚𝑚) = 6.68 𝑚𝑚2
𝑛𝑛𝜋𝜋𝐷𝐷 2 (27777)𝜋𝜋(0.0025𝑚𝑚)2
𝐴𝐴𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 = 1 𝑚𝑚2 − = 1 𝑚𝑚2 − = 0.86 𝑚𝑚2
4 4
𝑄𝑄̇𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡,𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 𝑄𝑄̇𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 + 𝑄𝑄̇𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 𝜂𝜂𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 ℎ𝐴𝐴𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 (𝑇𝑇𝑏𝑏 − 𝑇𝑇∞ ) + ℎ𝐴𝐴𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 (𝑇𝑇𝑏𝑏 − 𝑇𝑇∞ )
𝑊𝑊
= (0.932) �35 2 � (6.68 𝑚𝑚2 )(100℃ − 30℃)
𝑚𝑚 𝐾𝐾
𝑊𝑊
+ �35 2 � (0.86 𝑚𝑚2 )(100℃ − 30℃) = 15300 𝑊𝑊 + 2107 𝑊𝑊 = 17407 𝑊𝑊
𝑚𝑚 𝐾𝐾

The effectiveness of the fins is

𝑄𝑄̇𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡,𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 17407 𝑊𝑊 17407 𝑊𝑊
𝜀𝜀𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = = = = 7.10
𝑄𝑄̇𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡.𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 ℎ𝐴𝐴𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 (𝑇𝑇𝑏𝑏 − 𝑇𝑇∞ ) �35 𝑊𝑊 � (1 𝑚𝑚2 )(100℃ − 30℃)
𝑚𝑚2 𝐾𝐾