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Dr Koolaide
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Ice as pipe insulation?
OK so this is a problem me and some co-workers have been discussing. We have refrigeration pipelines that are about 15°F. It is very hot and humid here (assume about 90°F and 75% humidity) so condensation often forms on the pipes and freezes. Thinking of it as a pure heat transfer problem (like you would typically do in an undergraduate heat transfer class) I would guess the ice would offer a miniscule amount of "insulation". However, I could also see looking at it as a part of the equilibrium with the air and it not actually changing anything from a heat transfer perspective.
Any thoughts? Suggestions?
FYI: The thermal conductivity of ice is about 2.3 W/m*K and insulation is typically about 0.04 W/m*K
OK so this is a problem me and some co-workers have been discussing. We have refrigeration pipelines that are about 15°F. It is very hot and humid here (assume about 90°F and 75% humidity) so condensation often forms on the pipes and freezes. Thinking of it as a pure heat transfer problem (like you would typically do in an undergraduate heat transfer class) I would guess the ice would offer a miniscule amount of "insulation". However, I could also see looking at it as a part of the equilibrium with the air and it not actually changing anything from a heat transfer perspective.
Any thoughts? Suggestions?
FYI: The thermal conductivity of ice is about 2.3 W/m*K and insulation is typically about 0.04 W/m*K