Heat Loss in Bare and Lagged Pipes

CEDELYN L. INTANO

BS Chemical Engineering

College of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Chemical Engineering

Cebu Institute of Technology – University, N. Bacalso Ave. Cebu City, Philippines

ABSTRACT

Heat loss in pipes that are used in the industry cannot be avoided and thus it is

important to determine the convection coefficient at various temperatures from different

surfaces and lagging efficiency of the pipes. These heat losses can be a disadvantage so

determining the coefficients could help on what type of insulation will be used on the bare

pipe depending on the material that it will be used for. Calculating the coefficients can be

difficult but with the given formula and gathered data, it will be calculated easily.
I. Introduction

Heat is loss from the pipe or other surfaces to the room through convection,
conduction and radiation. On this experiment, the convection coefficient hc at various
temperatures from different surfaces: Bare Pipe, Pipe with Paint (Air Cell Asbestos), Pipe
with Silver-chrome paint and 85% Magnesia insulation and the lagging efficiency of
each pipe is being determined.

Conduction as heat transfer takes place if there is a temperature gradient in a solid

or stationary fluid medium.

With conduction energy transfers from more energetic to less energetic molecules
when neighbouring molecules collide. Heat flows in direction of decreasing temperatures
since higher temperatures are associated with higher molecular energy.

Conductive heat transfer can be expressed with "Fourier's Law":

q = k A dT / s (1)

where

q = heat transfer (W, J/s, Btu/hr)

A = heat transfer area (m2, ft2)

k = thermal conductivity of the material (W/m K or W/m oC, Btu/(hr oF ft2/ft))

dT = temperature gradient - difference - in the material (K or oC, oF)

s = material thickness (m, ft)

Heat energy transferred between a surface and a moving fluid at different

temperatures is known as convection.
 In reality this is a combination of diffusion and bulk motion of molecules. Near
the surface the fluid velocity is low, and diffusion dominates. Away from the surface,
bulk motion increases the influence and dominates.

Convective heat transfer may take the form of either

 forced or assisted convection

 natural or free convection

Forced or Assisted Convection

Forced convection occurs when a fluid flow is induced by an external force,

such as a pump, fan or a mixer.

Natural or Free Convection

Natural convection is caused by buoyancy forces due to dens ity differences

caused by temperature variations in the fluid. At heating the density change in the
boundary layer will cause the fluid to rise and be replaced by cooler fluid that also will
heat and rise. This continues phenomena is called free or natural convection.

Boiling or condensing processes are also referred as a convective heat transfer processes.

 The heat transfer per unit surface through convection was first described by Newton
and the relation is known as the Newton's Law of Cooling.

The equation for convection can be expressed as:

q = hc A dT (1)

where

q = heat transferred per unit time (W)

A = heat transfer area of the surface (m2)

hc= convective heat transfer coefficient of the process (W/(m2K) or W/(m2oC))

dT = temperature difference between the surface and the bulk fluid (K or oC)
 The rate of Heat Loss from the surface may be expressed as:
𝑄⁄
𝜃 = (ℎ𝑐 + ℎ𝑟 ) 𝐴∆𝑇
Therefore rearranging terms,
𝑄⁄
(ℎ𝑐 + ℎ𝑟 ) = 𝜃
𝐴∆𝑇
Where;

𝑄⁄
𝜃 = Heat transferred (Btu/hr)

hc = Film coefficient of Heat Transfer by Convection (Btu/hr.ft2.°F)

hr = Film coefficient of Heat Transfer by Radiation (Btu/hr.ft2.°F)

A = Surface area (ft2)

ΔT = Temperature difference, surface to air (°F)

Also, the Lagging Efficiency (LE) may be expressed differently since the Heat Loss is
proportional to the quantity of condensate collected, the equation thus is:

𝑊𝐵 − 𝑊𝐿
𝐿𝐸 =
𝑊𝐵

Where WB and WL are the quantities of condensate from the Bare and Lagged Pipes
respectively.

The Convection coefficient hc and the Radiation coefficient hr can be evaluated from
the following equations:

∆𝑇 0.25
ℎ𝑐 = 0.42 ( )
𝐷

Where; D is the outside diameter (ft)

𝑇𝑠 4 𝑇𝑟 4
0.173𝑝 [(100 ) − (100 ) ]
ℎ𝑟 =
∆𝑇

Where; p is the emissivity of the material or insulation

 II. Materials, Apparatus, and Equipment

Heat Loss Experimental Set-up (refer to Figure I), and 1000-mL Beakers for
collection of condensate from pipes.

III. Methodology

Three (3) runs were made with steam at approximately 30psig (2atm). For each run,
the drain cock under the header was cracked to remove the water from the steam line and
header. After that, the four plug–type valves were opened to blow out any condensate from
the pipes and it was closed until only small amount of steam escapes along with the
condensate.

When the system has reached the equilibrium, as determined by surface

measurements, condensate were collected and measured from each pipe over a time interval
of 15 to 30 minutes, and the following date were collected: Barometric Pressure, Room
Temperature, Steam Pressure & Temperature, and Surface Temperature.

Surface temperatures were taken at three or more equally spaced points along each
test pipes, and at least three sets of readings were taken during each run. Because steam rising
from the condensate valves tends to heat the pipes and insulation, no temperature
measurements were made within 20 inches of the exit ends of the pipe. From the
experimental data for each run, the convective coefficient, radiation coefficient and the
lagging efficiencies were calculated.

IV. Data and Results

Table I. Processed Data for Heat Loss in Bare and Lagged Pipes.

Pipe No. 1 2 3 4
Pipe Classification Bare Paint Silver-Chrome 85% Magnesia
Average Surface Temp (°C) 113.33 113 105.5 61.17
Average Surface Temp (°F) 236.00 235.20 221.90 142.10
Volume of Condensate (mL) 910 930 940 1070
Outside Diameter (in.) 1.315 1.315 2.875 3.1875
Outside Diameter (ft.) 0.110 0.110 0.240 0.266
Room Temperature 33.7 (°C) 92.6 (°F)
Emissivity 0.88 0.96 0.26 0.16
Lagging Efficiency, LE 0 2.1978 3.2967 17.5824
hc [ Btu/hr.ft2.°F] 2.523704 2.520177 2.024111 1.551321
hr [ Btu/hr.ft2.°F] 0.032164 0.035527 0.008182 0.00187

Table II. Raw Data of Steam Temperature and Atmospheric Temperature (Room Temp).

Length of Pipe = 10 ft
Pipe No. 1 2 3 4
85%
Covering/Insulation Bare Paint Silver Chrome
Magnesia
Outside Diameter (in.) 1.315 1.315 2.875 3.1875
Emissivity 0.88 0.96 0.26 0.16
Barometric Pressure (psia) 14.696 14.696 14.696 14.696
Steam Pressure (psig) 30 30 30 30
84 75 79 83
Steam Temperature (°C) 87 79 89 91
91 90 91 92
Average Steam Temp. (°C) 87.3 81.3 86.3 88.7
Room Temperature (°C) 33.0 + 33.0 + 32.5
Average Room Temp (°C) 32.83
Time/run (min) 4/16 4/16 4/16 4/16

Table III. Raw Data on Surface Temperature and Volume of Condensate.

Pipe No. 1 2 3 4
Trial Point on Pipe Surface Temperature (°C)
A 103 90 93 53.5
B 89.5 93 112 55
1st
C 102.5 85 112.6 60.7
D 104.3 85.4 110.6 64.1
A 87.7 99.9 91 55.1
2nd B 96.9 105.3 99.4 59.1
C 97.1 94.6 114.8 64.6
 D 106 103.3 116.9 63.4
A 102.3 100.5 104.1 62.4
B 99.8 97.1 97.7 63.4
3rd
C 101.8 98.8 91.7 48.2
D 99.54 99.0 92.7 54.7
Average Temperature (°C) 99.54 95.99 103.04 58.68
Volume of Condensate (mL) 258.17 286.67 268.67 364

V. Discussion and Conclusion

Bare Pipe had the highest convection coefficient while 85% Magnesia has the
lowest value based on the gathered and calculated data. These results are in line with the
related literate except with Magnesia, which is higher than expected. This error could be
due to different factors that affected the results while collecting the data.

Paint has the lowest lagging efficiency while the 85% Magnesia had the highest
lagging efficiency. This could be due to the use of magnesium as the insulation that gave
a very low convection coefficient. Because the lower the convection coefficient, the
higher the lagging efficiency. Since the volume of the condensate is directly proportional
to the weight of condensation and the rate of condensation is directly proportional to the
heat loss in the pipe. Then the effectiveness of the insulation can be calculated.

Insulating your pipes stops most of the heat from leaking out as the water travels
from the hot water system to your water outlet. Thus it is important to know the lagging
efficiency of the insulation material before choosing what kind of material to purchase.

VI. References

 Chrombie, M., et al. (January 2006). Calculating Heat Loss. Chromalex, LaVergne
Tenn.

 Zimmerman, et al. (1995). Chemical Engineering Laboratory Equipment. The

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rochester. OT., New Hampshire.
p. 163 – 173.

APPENDIX
 Sample Calculations on Determining the Convection coefficient, Radiation
coefficient, and Lagging Efficiency:

o Determining Convection coefficient, hc

For Bare Pipe:
∆𝑇 0.25 236.0 °𝐹 − 92.6 °𝐹 0.25 Btu
ℎ𝑐 = 0.42 ( ) = 0.42 ( ) = 2.523704
𝐷 0.110 𝑓𝑡 hr ∙ ft 2 ∙ ℉

o Determining Radiation coefficient, hr

For Bare Pipe:
𝑇𝑠 4 𝑇𝑟 4 236.0 °𝐹 4 92.6 °𝐹 4
0.173𝑝 [(100 ) − (100 ) ] 0.173(0.88) [( 100 ) − ( 100 ) ]
ℎ𝑟 = =
∆𝑇 236.0 °𝐹 − 92.6 °𝐹
Btu
= 0.032164
hr ∙ ft 2 ∙ ℉

o Determining Lagging Efficiency, LE

For Pipe with Paint (Asbestos):
𝑊𝐵 − 𝑊𝐿 910 𝑚𝐿 − 930 𝑚𝐿
𝐿𝐸 = = ‖ × 100‖ = 2.19780%
𝑊𝐵 910 𝑚𝐿