Optimal Insulation Thickness for a Reactor

by Luis Rodriguez

Submitted : Spring 2010

The first question of the problem asked to find the optimal insulation thickness for a reactor that conducts steam throughout a pipe. The concept was simply to find a balance between heat conservation (steam) while maintaining insulation costs to a minimum. What was found was that in order to balance heat conservation and insulation costs, R (insulation thickness) must me around 0.2ft The second part of the problem asked to determine the corresponding annual cost of insulation (pro rated over years of operation) using the Cost formula. The result was that the amount of money the company spends to generate steam, is somewhere between one Million BTU and 1.5.

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