Mathematical Approach for Determining The Critical Thickness Of Insulation For Pipe Bends

Abstract

A heat transfer analysis through a pipe bend has revealed that critical thickness of insulation is different for the bend compare to the straight pipe and it is a function of radius of curvature. This is obtained by considering different areas for the upper and lower surface of the pipe. If heat transfer is studied for considering complete area of the pipe, the critical thickness of the pipe obtained is same as obtained for conventional straight pipe but the area is not uniformly distributed in upper bend and inner bend surface of the pipe. It shows that heat transfer from upper surface is more compared to inner bend surface due to larger area available for heat transfer.