PROBLEM3.

76
KNOWN: Spherical tank of 3-m diameter containing LP gas at -60C with 250 mm thickness of
insulation having thermal conductivity of 0.06 W/mK. Ambient air temperature and convection
coefficient on the outer surface are 20C and 6 W/m
2
K, respectively.
FIND: (a) Determine the radial position in the insulation at which the temperature is 0C and (b) If
the insulation is pervious to moisture, what conclusions can be reached about ice formation? What
effect will ice formation have on the heat gain? How can this situation be avoided?
SCHEMATIC:
T
oo
T
o
T
q
t
R
cv
R
Ambient air
T = 20 C
o
oo
Insulation, k = 0.06 W/m-K
Tank, T = -6 , r = 1.5 m
t i
0 C
o
T (r ) =
oo oo
o
0 C
h = 6 W/m -K
2
t = 250 mm
ins
r
i
r
o
r
ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Steady-state conditions, (2) One-dimensional, radial (spherical) conduction
through the insulation, and (3) Negligible radiation exchange between the insulation outer surface and
the ambient surroundings, (4) Inner surface of insulation at T
t
.
ANALYSIS: (a) The heat transfer situation can be represented by the thermal circuit shown above.
The heat gain to the tank is
( )
( )
t
3
ins cv
20 60 K
T T
q 612.4 W
R R
0.1263 4.33 10 K/ W

= = =
+
+
where the thermal resistances for the insulation (see Table 3.3) and the convection process on the
outer surface are, respectively,
( )
1
i o
ins
1/1.50 1/1.75 m
1/ r 1/ r
R 0.1263 K/ W
4 k 4 0.06 W/ m K t t

= = =

( )
3
cv
2 2 2
s
o
1 1 1
R 4.33 10 K/ W
hA
h4 r 6 W/ m K 4 1.75 m t t

= = = =

To determine the location within the insulation where T
oo
(r
oo
) = 0C, use the conduction rate
equation, Eq. 3.41,
( )
( )
( )
1
oo t oo t
oo
i oo i
4 k T T 4 k T T
1
q r
1/ r 1/ r r q
t t

(
= =
(

and substituting numerical values, find
( ) ( )
1
oo
4 0.06 W/ m K 0 60 K
1
r 1.687 m
1.5 m 612.4 W
t

(

= = (
(

<
(b) With r
oo
= 1.687 m, wed expect the region of the insulation r
i
s r s r
oo
to be filled with ice
formations if the insulation is pervious to water vapor. The effect of the ice formation is to
substantially increase the heat gain since k
ice
is nearly twice that of k
ins
, and the ice region is of
thickness (1.687 1.50)m = 187 mm. To avoid ice formation, a vapor barrier should be installed at a
radius larger than r
oo
.