MVGR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING (A)

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Experimental Investigation on
Variation of Critical radius of
Asbestos with temperature

S.V.S.NARAYANA VARMA,14331A03D8
S.NIRMAL PRASAD,14331A03E0
SRINIVAS AKELLA,14331A03D9
 CONTENTS
1. ABSTRACT.pg-1
2. KEYWORDSpg-1
3. INTRODUCTION.pg1-2
4. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP....pg-2
5. SPECIFICATIONpg-2
6. PROCEDURE.pg-2
7. FORMULAE.pg-3
8. OBSERVATION.pg3-4
9. CALCULATION.pg4-5
10.RESULT.pg-5
11.DISCUSSIONpg-6
12.REFERENCESpg-7

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ABSTRACT:
The Study evaluated the Critical Radius (Cr) of insulating material namely asbestos using
lagged pipe experiment. The Cr of this selected Asbestos material was determined at power
inputs between 30W-60W.The results obtained showed the variation in Cr of Asbestos with
temperature. The study explored and established the possibility of asbestos as insulator at
different temperatures. Different regions have different temperatures so same C r of
insulation cant be used everywhere. This knowledge about critical radius of insulation helps
us to improve the performance of the asbestos as insulator.
KEYWORDS:
Thermal Conductivity, Heat transfer Coefficient, Variation of Thermal Conductivity, Insulating
Material.
INTRODUCTION:

Heat transfer occurs at a lower rate across materials of low thermal conductivity than across
materials of high thermal conductivity. Thermal conductivity is the physical property denoting
the ease with which a material can accomplish the transmission of heat energy by molecular
motion through conduction mode of heat transfer. To prevent this energy transfer, there is a
need for insulation. Insulation is the act of preventing the flow or passage of heat, electric, or
sound energy through a material, medium or system. It is the act of protecting a material,
medium or system with a material to prevent energy escaping from it. Insulators are materials
used to prevent the passage of heat, electricity, light, or sound through a material, medium
or system. However, thermal insulation is specifically used in such cases in which one wishes
to obstruct the flow of heat between an enclosure and its surroundings.

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Therefore, determining the variation of critical radius of insulation of asbestos will help to
determine the radius at which heat transfer rate can be reduced at different temperatures.

Experimental Setup:

SPECIFICATIONS:
Bar Zone Diameter d1 = 32mm.
Zone 1 of Diameter d2= 65mm.
Zone 2 of Diameter d3= 75mm.
Zone 3 of Diameter d4= 85mm.
All the zones are on one single pipe of length 450mm and each zone is equally divided i.e.
each zone is of 110mm.To measure the temperatures, thermocouples are provided at the
inside & outside surface & are read on temperature indicator to measure input, wattmeter is
provided. The pipe is of copper of diameter, d = 32mm & thickness of 1mm with an in-built
coil as heater of capacity 500Watts.

PROCEDURE:
1. The heater is switched on.
2. The Watt meter is adjusted to 50watts by using a regulator.
3. Allowed the system to reach Steady state.
4. Readings such as Temperatures & Wattages are noted down.
5. The Experiment is repeated for different values of Power.

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6. All the readings are tabulated and critical Radius is calculated.

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 OBSERVATIONS:

Power Temperature oC
Input
In Bare Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Ambient
Watts(W) T1 T2 T7 T3 T6 T4 T5 Ta
40 61.7 67.4 40.8 70.6 42.6 66.6 37.7 25

41 59 63.9 39.4 61.1 40.9 63.9 36.6 26.7

52 76.2 85.6 47.2 92.1 49.1 186.8 42.6 27.5

62 82.3 93.2 50.1 100.7 52 94.8 45.6 28

CALCULATIONS:
For Power Input-62Watts
Zone-1 Zone-2 Zone-3
1. T m= 1.Tm= (52+28)/2 1. Tm= (45.6+28)/2
(50.1+28)/2 =40oC =36.8oC
= 39.50C 2. = (1/Tm) 2. = (1/Tm)
2. = (1/Tm) =3.19x10-3 K = 3.23x10-3 K
= 3.21x10-3 K 3. Rad=723430.259 3. Rad=882061.904
3. Rad=431099.84 4.Nu=3.5296 4. Nu=3.6409
4. Nu=3.2593 5.h=1.2895 5. h=1.1627
5. h=1.37 6.Rd=0.085772m 6. Rd=0.09504m
6. Rd=(k/h) 7.Q=2.2943W 7. Q=2.148W
=0.081m
7. Q=1.74195W

For Power Input = 40W

Zone-1 Zone-2 Zone-3
Tm= (40.5+28.4)/2 Tm= (41.7+28.4)/2 Tm= (38+28.4)/2
= 34.450C = 35.050C = 33.20C
= (1/Tm) = (1/Tm) = (1/Tm)
= 3.25x10-3 K =5.265x10-3 K =5.265x10-3 K
Rad=32825.22 Rad=35768.15 Rad=26559.47
Nu=2.145 Nu=2.442 Nu=2.35
h=2.04 h=2.07 h=2.09
Rd=(k/h) Rd=(k/h) Rd=(k/h)
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 =0.054m =0.053m =0.0279m
Q=1.109W Q=1.278W Q=1.1705W

RESULT:
Power Input(W) Critical Radius Cr (m)

40 0.053

41 0.0854

52 0.08562

62 0.08572

DISCUSSION:
From above table, as the power input is increased, the temperature given to the lagged pipe
increases. As the temperature is increased the critical radius of insulation of asbestos is
increasing.
We observe from the table, that the critical radius for power input 40 & 41 W have too
much deviation. This may be due to the difference in ambient conditions or heat losses or
parallax errors.

Series 1
0.1

0.08
CritiCal Radius(Cr)

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
40 41 52 62
Power Input(W)

Series 1

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We Observe from graph that critical radius increases upon temperature increase. This may
be due to decrease in heat transfer coefficient or in some cases due to increase in thermal
conductivity, due to molecular vibrations.
REFERENCES
Cengel, A.Y. and Boles, A. M. (2007): Thermodynamics, an Engineering Approach,
4thEdition (SI Units). McGraw-Hill companies, Inc.,
Chapman, A.J. (1984): Heat Transfer, 4th Edition. Macmillan Publishing Company,
New York. pp: 4.
Heat Transfer By J.P Holman and Souvik Bhattacharya 10 Ed.
Heat and Mass Transfer Data Book by C.P Kothandaraman.