Determing energy loss

[braell]

Hello-

We have a digital infrared camera; we use it primarily as an electrical troubleshooter. I have had electrical training, quite some time ago, so a bit(bite) rusty...

Our company now is in the ever so popular cost savings mode. So we are now using our tool to determine possible heat savings in insulating exposed areas of equipment. My question is what formula(s) are popular in finding heat loss, with a give surface area(ft2), delta temp, emmissivity etc. I have tried plugging our numbers into the Stephen-Boltzmann formula and numbers did not seem to come out right.

Appreciate any assistance-

 

[electricpete]

Stefan boltzman doesn't work because radiation is not the primary means of heat transfer from the exposed surface to the environment (convection is).

I don't know howto correlate surface temperature to heat loss (per unit area)

 

[hotspot]

Might I suggest a different approach? Baseline energy requirements to produce your current output while tracking plant ambient tempreature and humidity inside to weather conditions outside. Use the ir equipment to identify candidates for insullation, insullating easiest and largest areas first. If true to norm, energy requirements under similar conditions will decrease with the additional insullation. With before and after examples then available, you will be able to approach the powers to be with a generic soft dollar estimate(based on your findings and area energy charges) of additional savings, provided you continue to identify areas of improved insullation candidates.