PROBLEM3.

31
KNOWN: Size and surface temperatures of a cubical freezer. Materials, thicknesses and interface
resistances of freezer wall.
FIND: Cooling load.
SCHEMATIC:
t,c
R
t,c
R
L = 100 mm
ins
L = 6.35 mm
st
Cork
L = 6.35 mm
al
T = -6 C
s,i
o
T
s,o
T = 22 C
s,o
o
T
s,i
t,c
R = 2.5x10
-4
m -K/W
2
L /k
al al
L /k
st st
L /k
ins ins
q
W = 3 m
Freezer
ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Steady-state, (2) One-dimensional conduction, (3) Constant properties.
PROPERTIES: Table A-1, Aluminum 2024 (~267K): k
al
= 173 W/mK. Table A-1, Carbon steel
AISI 1010 (~295K): k
st
= 64 W/mK. Table A-3 (~300K): k
ins
= 0.039 W/mK.
ANALYSIS: For a unit wall surface area, the total thermal resistance of the composite wall is
al ins st
tot t,c t,c
al ins st
L L L
R R R
k k k
'' '' '' = + + + +
2 2
4 4
tot
0.00635m m K 0.100m m K 0.00635m
R 2.5 10 2.5 10
173 W/ m K W 0.039 W/ m K W 64 W/ m K


'' = + + + +

( )
5 4 4 5 2 2
tot
R 3.7 10 2.5 10 2.56 2.5 10 9.9 10 m K/ W 2.56 m K/ W

'' = + + + + =
Hence, the heat flux is
( )
s,o s,i
2 2
tot
22 6 C T T
W
q 10.9
R
2.56 m K/ W m
(

'' = = =
''

and the cooling load is
2 2 2
s
q A q 6W q 54m 10.9 W/ m 590W '' '' = = = = <
COMMENT: Thermal resistances associated with the cladding and the adhesive joints are negligible
compared to that of the insulation.