Critical Radius of Insulation

Or
Critical Thickness of Insulation

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Dr. G.Nataraj, SMEC, VIT University
Critical Radius of Insulation
The rate of heat transfer from the insulated pipe to the
surrounding air can be expressed as,

T1  T
Q
r 
ln  2 
 r1   1
2LK h(2r2 L)

Insulated Cylindrical Pipe

r1 - inner radius.
r2 - outer radius.
T1 - outer surface temperature.
k - thermal conductivity.
h – Convective heat transfer coefficient.

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Dr. G.Nataraj, SMEC, VIT University
Critical Radius of Insulation
 The value of r2 at which heat transfer rate Q reaches a
maximum is determined from the requirement that
(zero slope). dQ
0
dr2  r 
ln  2 
 Performing the differentiation and  r1 
solving for r2 yields the critical radius of
R cond 
insulation for a cylindrical and sphere
2LK
body to be.
k 2k
rc,cyl  rc,sph 
h h
Variation Of Heat Transfer Rate With Radius
For cylindrical For Sphere
Note:
 rc depends on the thermal conductivity of the insulation k and the external
convection heat transfer coefficient h .
 The rate of heat transfer from the cylinder increases with the addition of
insulation for r2 < rcritical
Reaches a maximum when r2 = rcritical
Starts to decrease for r2 > rcritical 108
Critical Radius of Insulation

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Critical Radius of Insulation

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Problem- Critical radius of insulation
Example 8.
An electrical wire, 2 mm in diameter is covered with a 2.5 mm thick layer of plastic insulation (k = 0.5
W/m.K) to reduce the heat loss. Heat is dissipated from the outer surface of insulation to surrounding air
at 25°C by convection with heat transfer coefficient of 10 W/m2.K. The wire is maintained at constant
temperature of 120°C. Estimate the rate of heat dissipation from the wire per unit length with and
without insulation. Calculate the thickness of insulation when the heat dissipation rate is maximum. What
is maximum value of heat dissipation ?

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Dr. G.Nataraj, SMEC, VIT University
Problem- Critical radius of insulation

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Dr. G.Nataraj, SMEC, VIT University
Problem- Critical radius of insulation

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Dr. G.Nataraj, SMEC, VIT University
Problem- Critical radius of insulation Home Work Problem
Example 9. A 3 mm diameter and 5 m long electric wire is tightly wrapped with a 2 mm thick
plastic cover whose thermal conductivity is k=0.15 W/m.oC. Electrical measurements indicate
that a current of 10 A passes through the wire and there is a voltage drop of 8 V along the wire.
If the insulated wire is exposed to a medium at T∞ = 30 oC with a heat transfer coefficient of
h=12 W/m2.oC, determine the temperature at the interface of the wire and the plastic cover in
steady operation. Also determine whether doubling the thickness of the plastic cover will
increase or decrease this interface temperature. (Or) Also determine critical radius of insulation
thickness of plastic cover.

Answers:
1. T1 = 105 oC
2. rc =12.5 mm

HOME WORK PROBLEM

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Dr. G.Nataraj, SMEC, VIT University
Problem- Critical radius of insulation Home Work Problem

Example 10. Calculate the critical radius of insulation for asbestos [k =0.17 W/m· ◦C] surrounding a
pipe and exposed to room air at 20◦C with h=3.0 W/m2 · ◦C. Calculate the heat loss from a 200◦C,
5.0-cm-diameter pipe when covered with the critical radius of insulation and without insulation.
Also determine the critical radius , as an alternative of fiberglass having a thermal conductivity of
0.04 W/m◦C.

HOME WORK PROBLEM

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Dr. G.Nataraj, SMEC, VIT University