Question

A double-pane insulated window consists of two 1 cm thick pieces of glass separated by a 1.8 cm layer of air. The window measures 4 m in width and 3 m in height. The inside air is at 27ºC with a convection coefficient of 12 W/m2K, and the outer surface of the glass is at -10ºC. (a) Sketch the thermal circuit. (b) Find the temperature of the glass surface inside the room. (c) Calculate the heat loss through the window. (d) Which, if any, thermal resistances are negligible (less than 1% of the total)?

Answer 1

Answer:

(b). T = 22.55 ⁰C

(c). q = 557.8 W

Explanation:

we take follow a step by step process to solving this problem.

from the question, we have that

The two glass pieces is separated by a 1.8 cm distance layer of air.

the thickness of glass piece is 1 cm

width = 4 m

the height = 3 m

(a). the sketch of the thermal circuit is uploaded in the picture below.

(b).  the thermal resistance due to the conduction in the first glass plane is given thus;

R₁ = Lg / Kg A ................(1)

given that Kg rep. the thermal conductivity of the glass plane

A = conduction surface area

Lg = Thickness of glass plane4

taking the thermal conductivity of glass plane as Kg = 0.78 w/mk

inputting values into equation (1) we have,

R₁ = [1 (cm) ˣ 1 (m)/100 (cm)] / [(0.78 w/mk)(4m ˣ 3m)]

R₁ = 1.068 ˣ 10 ⁻³ k/w

Being that we have same thermal resistance in the first and second plane,

therefore R₁ = R₃ = 1.068 ˣ 10 ⁻³ k/w

⇒ Also the thermal resistance between air and glass as a result of the conduction by the layer is given thus

R₂ = La/KaA .....................(2)

given Ka = thermal conductivity of air

A = surface area

La = thickness of air

substituting values into the equation we have

R₂ = [1.8 (cm) ˣ 1 (m)/100 (cm)] / [(0.0262 w/mk)(4m ˣ 3m)]

R₂ = 5.73 ˣ 10⁻² k/w

Given the thermal resistance on the outer surface due to convection, we have

R₄ = 1/hA

inputting value gives R₄ = 1 / (12 w/m² ˣ 12m) = 6.94 ˣ 10⁻³k/w

R₄ = 6.94 ˣ 10⁻³k/w

Finally the sum total of thermal resistance = R₁ + R₂ + R₃ + R₄

R-total = 0.0663 kw

From this we can calculate the rate of heat loss

using  q = Ti - To / R-total ..............(3)

given Ti and To is the inside and outside temperature i.e. 27⁰C and -10⁰C

from equation (3),

q = 27- (-10) / 0.0063 = 557.8 W

q = 557.8 W  

⇒ Applying the heat transfer formula for inside surface glass temperature gives;

q = Ti - T₂ / R₃ + R₄

T₂ = Ti - q (R₃ + R₄)

T₂ = 27 - 557.8 (1.068ˣ10⁻³ + 6.94ˣ10⁻³ ) = 22.55°C

T₂ = 22.55°C

cheers i hope this helps