HEAT TRANSFER PROBLEMS

Conduction through Composite Plane Walls

1. A horizontal plate of steel 2 in. thick is covered by a blanket of insulation of same thickness. The temperature
of the lower side of the steel is 500oF and the upper side of the insulation 100oF. k for steel equals 29; k for the
insulation equals 1.0. Determine the temperature of the upper side of the steel plate.

Solution:

kinsulation = 1.0 Btu/hr-ft-F

ksteel = 29 Btu/hr-ft-F

For all surfaces: A = Asteel = Ainsulation

Let A = 1ft2
xinsulation 2
Rinsulation = = = 0.0833
kinsulation A 12(1.0)
xsteel 2
Rsteel = = = 0.00575
ksteel A 12(29)
Rtotal = Rinsulation + Rsteel = 0.0833 + 0.00575
Rtotal = 0.08905

Then, Δt at the steel section:

Rsteel
Δt1-2 = (t1 – t3)
Rtotal
0.00575
= (500 – 100) = 25.83oF
0.08905

Thus;
Temperature at the interface, t2:
t2 = t1 – Δt1-2 = 500 – 25.83
t2 = 474.17oF ← Ans.
HEAT TRANSFER PROBLEMS

Conduction through Composite Plane Walls

2. A composite wall is made up of common brick (k = 0.40 Btu/hr-ft-F) 8 in. thick, faced with sandstone (k = 1.06
Btu/hr-ft-F) 6 in. thick. The room-side surface of the brick is plastered with gypsum plaster (k = 0.28 Btu/hr-
ft-F) ¾ in. thick. The temperature of the exposed surface of the plaster is 90 oF. Determine the temperature of
the exposed surface of the surface of the sandstone and both surfaces of the brick when the rate of heat flow
from the room side to the outside is 20 Btu/(hr)(sq ft).

Solution:

kgypsum = 0.28; kbrick = 0.40; ksandstone = 1.06 Btu/hr-ft-F

xgypsum = ¾in.; xbrick = 8in.; xsandstone = 6in.
t1 = 90oF

For all surfaces: A = Agypsum = Abrick = Asandstone

xgypsum 3/4 0.2232

Rgypsum = = =
kgypsum A (12)(0.28) A

xbrick 8 1.67
Rbrick = = =
kbrick A (12)(0.40) A

xsandstone 6 0.4717
Rsandstone = = =
ksandstone A (12)(0.40) A

For layers in series:

Rtotal = Rgypsum + Rbrick + Rsandstone
1
= (0.2232 + 1.67 + 0.4717)
A
2.365
=
A

For all layers: Q = Q1-2 = Q2-3 = Q3-4

For t4:

∆t1-4
Q= ; Δt1-4 = Q(Rtotal); Q/A = 20 Btu/hr-ft2
Rtotal

2.365
Δt1-4 = (20A)( ) = 47.3oF
A
HEAT TRANSFER PROBLEMS
t4 = t1 - Δt1-4 = 90 – 47.3

t4 = 42.7oF ← Ans.

For t2:

Rgypsum
Δt1-2 = Δt1-4 = 0.2232(20) = 4.464oF
Rtotal
t2 = t1 - Δt1-2 = 90 – 4.464
t2 = 85.5oF ← Ans.

For t3:

Rgypsum +R
brick
Δt1-3 = Δt1-4 = (1.67+0.2232)(20) = 37.9oF
Rtotal
t3 = t1 - Δt1-3 =90 – 37.9
t3 = 52.1oF ← Ans.

Conduction through Composite Plane Walls

3. A plane wall is composed of an 8-in. layer of refractory brick (k = 0.75) and a 2-in. layer of insulating material
with k for the insulating material varying linearly a k = 0.02 + 0.0001t, where t is the temperature in degrees
Fahrenheit. The inside-surface temperature of the brick is 2000oF, and the outside-surface temperature of the
insulating material is 100oF. Calculate the temperature at the boundary of the brick and insulation.

Solution:

krefractory = 0.75 Btu/hr-ft-F

kinsulation = 0.02 + 0.0001t; t = temperature of the insulation, oF
xrefractory = 8 in.; xinsulation = 2in.
t1 = 2000oF and t3 = 100oF
t2 = temperature at the boundary, oF

For all surfaces: A = Arefractory = Ainsulation

xrefractory 8 0.889
Rrefractory = = =
krefractory A (12)(0.75) A

xinsulation 2
Rinsulation = = t +100
kinsulation A (12)[0.02 + 0.0001( 2 )]
2
2
=
A(0.3 + 0.0006t2 )

For two layers: Q = Q1-2 = Q2-3

∆t1-2 ∆t2-3
=
Rrefractory Rinsulation

A(2000-t2 ) A(t2 -100)(0.3+0.0006t2 )

=
0.889 2

Thus;
t2 = 1368.15oF ← Ans.
HEAT TRANSFER PROBLEMS
4. An insulated wall is to be constructed of common brick (k = 0.40 Btu/hr-ft-F) 8 in. thick and metal lath and
plaster (k = 0.27 Btu/hr-ft-F) 1 in. thick, with an intermediate layer of loosely packed rock wool (k = 0.039
Btu/hr-ft-F). The outer surfaces of the brick and plaster are to be at temperatures of 1000 oF and 120oF
respectively. Calculate the thickness of insulation required in order that the heat loss per square foot shall not
exceed 100 Btu/hr.

Solution:

ti = 1000oF; to = 120oF

Total thermal resistance of the composite wall, Rtotal:

(ti -to )
Rtotal = ; where: Q = total heat loss through the composite wall = 100 Btu/hr-ft2
Q
(1000-120)
Rtotal = = 8.8 ft2-F/Btu/hr
100

Then,
For all surfaces: A = Abrick = Arockwool = Aplaster
Solving for individual thermal resistances, R, per square foot:

xbrick 8
Rbrick = = = 1.67
kbrick A 12(0.40)(1)

xplaster 1
Rplaster = = = 0.30864
kplaster A 12(0.27)(1)

Then, thermal resistance of the loosely packed rock wool layer:

Rrockwool = Rtotal – (Rbrick + Rplaster) = 8.8 – (1.67 + 0.30864)

Rrockwool = 6.82 ft2-F/Btu/hr

Thus, the thickness, x, of loosely packed rock wool:

x
Rrockwool = ; x = Rrockwool(krockwool)(A)
krockwool A

x = 6.82(0.039)(1)

xrockwool = 3.19 in. ← Ans.

HEAT TRANSFER PROBLEMS
Conduction through Composite Plane Walls

5. A composite wall is made up of fire-clay brick (Missouri) (k = 0.71 Btu/hr-ft-F) 8 in. thick and 85 per cent
magnesia insulation (k = 0.046 Btu/hr-ft-F). The temperature of the exposed surface of the fire-clay brick is
800oF and that of the exposed surface of the insulation is 100oF.

A. What thickness of insulation is needed to provide a temperature at the interface not exceeding 700oF?
B. What does the temperature become if the thickness of insulation is doubled?
C. What is the rate of heat transfer in each case?

Solution:

A. t1 = 800oF; t2 = 700oF; t3 = 100oF

kbrick = 0.71 Btu/hr-ft-F

kmagnesia = 0.046 Btu/hr-ft-F

For all surfaces: A = Abrick = Amagnesia

Let A = 1ft2
x = thickness of 85% magnesia layer, in.

Heat through each layer, Q = Q1-2 = Q2-3:

kbrick ∆t1-2 kmagnesia ∆t2-3

=
xfbrick x

Rearranging:

kmagnesia ∆t2-3
x= (xbrick)
kfbrick ∆t1-2
HEAT TRANSFER PROBLEMS
(0.046)(700-100)
x = (8) = 3.11 in.
(0.71)(800-700)

x = 3.11, say 3 in. ← Ans.

B) If insulation thickness is doubled, say x = 6 in.:

Rtotal = Rfbrick + Rmagnesia

xfbrick (8)
Rfbrick = = = 0.94
kfbrick A 12(0.71)(1)

x (6)
Rmagnesia = = = 10.87
kmagnesia A 12(0.046)(1)

Δt at the interface of fire-clay brick and 85% magnesia:

Rfbrick 0.94
Δt = (t1-t3) = (800-100)
Rtotal 0.94+10.87

Δt = 55.71oF

t3 = 800 – 55.71 = 744.3oF ← Ans.

C) For Case A:

∆t (800-100)
QA = =
Rtotal 5.633+0.94

QA = 106.5 Btu/hr-ft2 ← Ans.

For Case B:

∆t (800-100)
QB = =
Rtotal 10.87+0.94

QB = 59.27 Btu/hr-ft2 ← Ans.

HEAT TRANSFER PROBLEMS
Conduction through Composite Plane Walls

6. A floor is composed of common brick (k = 0.40 Btu/hr-ft-F) 4-in. thick laid on a 4-in. slab of 1-2-4 mix stone
concrete (k = 0.79 Btu/hr-ft-F) which is laid directly on the ground. The thermal conductivity of the ground is
0.90 Btu/hr-ft-F. Calculate the temperature of the ground at a depth of 12-in below the lower side of the slab
when the temperatures of the upper and lower surfaces of the brick are 70 and 66 oF, respectively. Assume the
heat flow to be normal to the surface of the floor.

Solution:

kbrick = 0.40 Btu/hr-ft-F

kslab = 0.79 Btu/hr-ft-F
kground = 0.90 Btu/hr-ft-F

For all surfaces: A = Abrick = Aslab = Aground

Let A = 1ft2
xbrick 4
Rbrick = = = 0.833
kbrick A (12)(0.4)(1)

xslab 4
Rslab = = = 0.422
kslab A (12)(0.79)(1)

xground 12
Rground = = = 1.11
kground A (12)(0.90)(1)

Heat transfer through the composite layers,

Q = Qbrick = Qslab = Qground

Then, temperature difference through the ground:

Qslab = Qground

(t2 - t3 )(Rslab + Rground )

(t3 – t4) = ; t2 = 70oF and t3 = 66oF
Rbrick
HEAT TRANSFER PROBLEMS
(70 - 66) (0.422 +1.11)
=
0.833
= 8.82oF

Thus,

t4 = t3 – 8.82 = 66 – 8.82

t4 = 57.18oF ← Ans.

Conduction through a Plane Wall

7. A refrigerator, insulated with corkboard (k = 0.025 Btu/hr-ft-F) 2 in. thick, maintains an average inside-surface
temperature of 35oF when the outside-surface temperature is 65oF and provides a usable space of 20 by 20 by
36 in. Determine the percentage increase in usable space for the same outside dimensions if the corkboard is
replaced on all sides by silica aerogel (k = 0.014 Btu/hr-ft-F) of sufficient thickness to maintain the same rate
of heat flow. Neglect the thickness and resistance of the enclosing metal and consider the surface as a single
plane wall equivalent to the outside surface area.

Solution:
∆t
Q= ;
R
Where: R = thermal resistance
Then Qcork = Qaerogel
Assuming Δt at the layers of corkboard and silica aerogel are equal:

Rcork = Raerogel

xcork xaerogel
=
kcork A kaerogel A

For all surfaces A = Acork = Aaerogel

Where: A = total surface area of the refrigerator, thus

xcork xaerogel
=
kcork kaerogel
xcork 2(0.014)
xaerogel = (kaerogel) =
kcork (0.025)

xaerogel = 1.12 , say 1 1/8”

Thus,
The new usable space will be:

V’ = 21.75 x 21.75 x 37.75 = 17858.1 in2

Original usable space, V:

V = 20 x 20 x 36 = 14400 in2

Then, percentage increase equals:

17858.1-14400
% increase = x 100
14400

% increase = 24% ← Ans.

HEAT TRANSFER PROBLEMS
Conduction through Pipe

8. The temperature of the outside surface of an 8-in. double extra-strong bare steel pipe (i.d. = 6.87 in. and o.d.
= 8.625 in.) is 595oF, and the temperature of the inside-surface is 600oF.
A. What is the heat loss per foot of pipe?
B. What will be the saving in heat if the pipe is insulated with 2 in. of 85 per cent magnesia and the temperature
of the outer surface of the insulation is reduced to 200oF?

Solution:

A) Conduction through Pipe

kpipe = 26 Btu/hr-ft-F

2r1 = 6.87 in.

2r2 = 8.625 in.
t1 = 600oF and t2 = 595oF

2πkpipe (t1 -t2 ) 2π(26)(600-595)

Q = r = 4.3125
(ln 2 ) (ln )
r1 3.435
Q = 3590.4 Btu/hr-ft ← Ans.

B) Conduction through Composite Pipe

kmagnesia = 0.046 Btu/hr-ft-F

t3 = 200oF
2r3 = 8.625 + 2(2) = 12.625 in.

r
(ln 2) (ln
4.3125
)
r1 3.435
Rpipe = = = 0.00139
2πkpipe 2π(26)

r
(ln 3) (ln
6.3125
)
r2 4.3125
Rmagnesia = = = 1.32
2πkmagnesia 2π(0.046)

Rtotal = Rpipe + Rmagnesia

Rtotal = 0.00139 + 1.32 = 1.32139
HEAT TRANSFER PROBLEMS
(t1 -t3 ) (600-200)
Q= = = 303.11 Btu/hr-ft
Rtotal 1.32139

Savings = 3590.4 – 303.11 = 3287.3 Btu/hr-ft, say 91.55% ← Ans.