Consider the following statements:1. Under certain conditions, an incr...
Statement 1: Under certain conditions, an increase in thickness of insulation may increase the heat loss from a heated pipe.
Explanation: This statement is correct. The heat transfer through insulation occurs by conduction, and as the thickness of the insulation increases, the resistance to heat transfer also increases. However, there are cases where increasing the insulation thickness can lead to an increase in heat loss. This can happen when the overall heat transfer coefficient on the outside of the insulation is significantly higher than the heat transfer coefficient on the inner side of the insulation. In such cases, increasing the insulation thickness can reduce the temperature difference between the pipe and the surroundings, leading to an increase in the heat loss.
Statement 2: The heat loss from an insulated pipe reaches a maximum when the outside radius of insulation is equal to the ratio of thermal conductivity to the surface coefficient.
Explanation: This statement is correct. The heat loss from an insulated pipe can be calculated using the formula q = 2πk(L/ln(R2/R1)), where q is the heat loss, k is the thermal conductivity of the insulation, L is the length of the pipe, R1 is the inner radius of the insulation, and R2 is the outer radius of the insulation. By differentiating this formula with respect to R2 and equating it to zero, we can find that the maximum heat loss occurs when R2/R1 = k/h, where h is the surface coefficient.
Statement 3: Small diameter tubes are invariably insulated.
Explanation: This statement is incorrect. Small diameter tubes are not always insulated. Insulation is typically added to pipes and tubes to reduce heat loss or gain. The decision to insulate a small diameter tube depends on various factors such as the fluid being transported, the temperature difference between the fluid and the surroundings, and the economic considerations.
Statement 4: Economic insulation is based on minimum heat loss from the pipe.
Explanation: This statement is correct. Economic insulation aims to minimize heat loss from a pipe while considering the cost of insulation material and installation. The objective is to find the optimal insulation thickness that minimizes the total cost, considering both the cost of the insulation material and the cost of the energy saved due to reduced heat loss. Therefore, the design of economic insulation is based on minimizing heat loss from the pipe.
In conclusion, statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statements 3 and 4 are incorrect.
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