Calculating k Values for Pipe Insulation

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Calculating k Values for Pipe Insulation

• By Russell Peterson Chris Mabey

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Water Heater for the Developing World

• Minimize heat loss in pipes outside of the fire

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Problem

• Find out if clothing would be a good insulator
  for pipes on the water heater.
• Compare the k values for clothing to those of an
  emergency blanket and foam pipe insulation.

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Problem Setup
Plastic Bottle
Twater
Tsurroundings
Insulation
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Measured Temperatures and Transient Conduction
Model to determine h
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Measured Temperatures and Lumped Capacitance
Model to determine h
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Calculations

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Conclusion

• Calculated k values
• Pipe Insulation 0.0212
• Shirt 0.0015
• Emergency Blanket 3.84 e -5
• Clothes have a good k value but they need to be
  thick to provide adequate insulation
• Emergency blanket is an excellent insulator but
  would be difficult to obtain in developing
  countries.