Optimum Thickness of Furnace Insulation

by Jaime Carter

Submitted : Fall 2008

A furnace without insulation causes an over abundance of heat loss, which results in greater costs of energy. Although, the costs of too much insulation can counteract with the money saved in heat loss. The purpose of this project is to find a point of equilibrium between the cost of the insulation and the cost of the heat loss, where the total cost is at a minimum, by finding an efficient amount of insulation to be installed. By using Fourier's law of heat conduction of materials and forming graphs of the costs, it is possible to find the optimal amount of insulation needed.

[ Back ]