PROBLEM3.

66
KNOWN: Sphere of radius r
i
, covered with insulation whose outer surface is exposed to a
convection process.
FIND: Critical insulation radius, r
cr
.
SCHEMATIC:
ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Steady-state conditions, (2) One-dimensional radial (spherical)
conduction, (3) Constant properties, (4) Negligible radiation at surface.
ANALYSIS: The heat rate follows from the thermal circuit shown in the schematic,
( )
i tot
q= T T / R

where
tot t,conv t,cond
R R R and = +
t,conv
2
s
1 1
R
hA
4 hr t
= = (3.9)
t,cond
i
1 1 1
R
4 k r r t
(
=
(

(3.36)
If q is a maximum or minimum, we need to find the condition for which
tot
d R
0.
dr
=
It follows that
2 2 3
i
d 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0
dr 4 k r r 4 k 2 h
4 hr r r
t t t
t
( ( (
+ = + =
( ( (

giving
cr
k
r 2
h
=
The second derivative, evaluated at r = r
cr
, is
cr
tot
3 4
r=r
dR d 1 1 3 1
dr dr 2 k 2 h
r r
t t
(
(
= +
(
(


( ) ( )
3 3
1 1 3 1 1 1 3
1 0
2 k 2 h 2k/h 2 k 2
2k/h 2k/h
t t t

= + = + >
` `
) )
Hence, it follows no optimum R
tot
exists. We refer to this condition as the critical insulation
radius. See Example 3.6 which considers this situation for a cylindrical system.