Insulation Thickness- 3E Plus sofware

[cheme112]

Does anyone know how to determine insulation thickness by using 3E Plus Software? I am using the software to determine insulation thickness requirement for 150# steam and I am specifying calculation type "heat loss per hour", ambient temp. Wind velocity, process temperature, pipe size and material of insulation with 0.1 Aluminum jacket.
The program generates a table with insulation thicknesses, surface temp. deg. F, heat loss (BTU/HR*FT) and % efficiently. but what is the ideal thickness? All the generated results are below surface temp of 140F, and efficiency is between 91% and 98%.
For example at efficiency of 94% heat loss is 73.3 BTU/HR*FT, surface temperature is 68F and insulation thickness is 2" for 2" NPS.
@ efficiency of 95% heat loss is 65 BTU/HR*FT and surface temperature is 65F and insulation thickness is 2.5" for 2" NPS, and it goes on.

 

[IRstuff]

"but what is the ideal thickness?"

I don't understand what you think you are asking. The fact that the program generated a table suggests that there is no such thing as "ideal," so what do you mean be "ideal?"

The bottom line is that you've specified a problem with multiple solutions, and you need to determine whether any of the those solutions are in violation of requirements that you didn't explicitly specify.


TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg

faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list

http://www.eng-tips.com/forumlist.cfm