Optimal Insulation Thickness for the Minimum Annual Cost of Steam Piping

by David Remedios

Submitted : Spring 2012

We consider the use of insulation to decrease heat loss from a pipe. We find the optimal amount of insulation when we consider cost of insulation versus the cost of generating additional steam. We derive the heat loss as a function of insulation and temperature from Fourier's Law and Newton's Law of cooling using the first derivative test. From this we find an annual cost function which we optimize with techniques of calculus.

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