The heat loss from a boiler is to be held at a maximum of 900Btu/h ft2 of wall area. What thickness of asbestos (k= 0.10 Btu/h ft ℉) is required if the inner and outer surfaces of the insulation are to be 1600 and 500℉, respectively? Now if a 3-in.-thick layer of kaolin brick (k= 0.07 Btu/h ft ℉) is added to the outside of the asbestos, what heat flux will be result if the outside surface of the kaolin is 250℉? What will be the temperature at the interface between the asbestos and kaolin for this condition?

a. 0.122 ft b. -70 Btu/h ft² c. 633.33 °F

Explanation:

a. Since the rate of heat loss dQ/dt = kAΔT/d where k = thermal conductivity, A = area, ΔT = temperature gradient and d = thickness of insulation.

Now [dQ/dt]/A = kΔT/d

Given that [dQ/dt]/A = rate of heat loss per unit area = -900Btu/h ft², k = 0.10 Btu/h ft ℉(for asbestos), ΔT = T₂ - T₁ = 500 °F - 1600 °F = -1100 °F. We need to find the thickness of asbestos, d. So,

d = kΔT/[dQ/dt]/A

d = 0.10 Btu/h ft ℉ × -1100 °F/-900Btu/h ft²

d = 0.122 ft

b. If the 3 in thick Kaolin is added to the outside of the asbestos, and the outside temperature of the asbestos is 250℉, the heat loss due to the Kaolin is thus

[dQ/dt]/A = k'ΔT'/d'

k' = 0.07 Btu/h ft ℉(for Kaolin), ΔT' = T₂ - T₁ = 250 °F - 500 °F = -250 °F and d' = 3 in = 3/12 ft = 0.25 ft

[dQ/dt]/A = 0.07 Btu/h ft ℉ × -250 °F/0.25 ft

[dQ/dt]/A  = -70 Btu/h ft²

c. To find the temperature at the interface, the total heat flux equals the individual heat loss from the asbestos and kaolin. So

[dQ/dt]/A = k(T₂ - T₁)/d + k'(T₃ - T₂)/d' where  [dQ/dt]/A = -900Btu/h ft², k = 0.10 Btu/h ft ℉(for asbestos), k' = 0.07 Btu/h ft ℉(for Kaolin), T₁ = 1600 °F, T₂ = unknown and T₃ = 250℉.

Substituting these values into the equation, we have

-900Btu/h ft² = 0.10 Btu/h ft ℉(T₂ - 1600 °F)/0.122 ft + 0.07 Btu/h ft ℉(250℉ - T₂)/0.25 ft

-900Btu/h ft² = 0.82 Btu/h ft ℉(T₂ - 1600 °F) + 0.28Btu/h ft ℉(250℉ - T₂)

-900 °F = 0.82(T₂ - 1600 °F) + 0.28(250℉ - T₂)

-900 °F = 0.82T₂  - 1312°F + 70 °F - 0.28T₂

collecting like terms, we have

-900 °F + 1312°F - 70 °F = 0.82T₂   - 0.28T₂

342 °F = 0.54T₂

Dividing both sides by 0.54, we have

T₂ = 342 °F/0.54

T₂ = 633.33 °F

the answer would be 32*f

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