2.4.

1 PIPE AND TUBE SPECIFICATIONS

Common examples of hollow cylinders are pipes and tubes, which are used extensively in industry

to convey fluids from location to location. A number of the problems that we will model involve

pipes and tubes, so it is worthwhile to digress from our main course to become familiar with

industrial practice regarding pipes and copper water tubing. Other types of tubes have commercial

applications, and specification of the other types is reserved for later portions of this text, where

appropriate.

Pipes are usually specified according to a nominal size and a schedule. For example, a speci-

fication might read “1 nominal, schedule 40.” The “1 nominal” refers to a nominal size in inches,

in this case 1 inch. The “inch” is dropped here, because the nominal size can refer to either an

English Engineering unit or to an SI unit. In the smaller pipe sizes (1 2 nominal or less), the nominal

size is only remotely related to the actual size.

The pipe schedule refers to the wall thickness of the pipe. Usually, the higher the schedule

number, the thicker the wall. All 1 nominal pipe, regardless of schedule, has the same outside

diameter. The schedule will determine the inside dimension.

Wrought steel and wrought iron pipe specifications are provided in Appendix F. 1. Although

the table stipulates wrought steel and wrought iron, other materials such as aluminum, PVC

(polyvinyl chloride), and stainless steel pipe usually have the same or similar specifications.

The discussion above refers to pipe. We will now consider copper water tubing or, more plainly,

copper tubing. Note that copper can be a pipe material, and we would expect to find the same

specifications as for other pipes. So it is necessary to draw the distinction between copper pipe and

copper tubing. Tubing is like pipe in that they are both hollow cylinders but, in general, tubing has

thinner walls. Copper tubing used for conveying water has different specifications from pipe. Copper

tubing is manufactured in standard sizes and types, for example, 1-1/2 type K. The 1-1/2 is a

nominal size, which is indicntive of the outside diameter. The type is a specification of the wall

thickness. Type K is for underground service and general plumbing. Type L is for intcrior plumbing,

while type M is for use only with soldered fittings. Specifications for seamless copper tubing are

provided in Appendix Table F.2.

Example 2.4

A 12 nominal, schedule 80 stainless steel (type 304) pipe carries water condensate from a condenser

to a pump. The inside-wall temperature is 40”C, and the outside-wall temperature is 38°C. Deter-
mine the heat transfer through the pipe wall per unit length of pipe.

Solution

The given wall temperatures will probably exist for only a short distance in the pipe. As fluid flows

downstream, its temperature will decrease, and the outside-wall temperature will increase.
Assumptions

1. One-dimensional, steady-state, radial heat flow exists.

2. Material properties are constant.

Equation 2.30 applies:

For 304 stainless steel, from Table B.2,

k = 14.4 W/(m.K)

From Table F. 1, for 12 nominal, schedule 80 pipe,

0, = 32.39cm

D1 = 29.53 cm

Substituting into our equation for heat flow, we obtain

%= 27E(14*4) (40 - 38)

L In (32.39129.53)

Solving,

= 1 957.4 W/m = 1.96 kW/m L

2.4.2 MATERIALS IN SERIES

Figure 2.1 1 is a sketch of a composite cylindrical wall that consists of three materials placed in

series, with regard to the direction of heat flow. The thermal circuit is shown below the sketch. As

was done for the plane wall, we apply Equation 2.29 to the system, specifically to each material,

subject to appropriate boundary conditions. The results are:

T - T, ln(r/Rl) -=

T, - T, ln(R,IR,) R, I r 5 R2

T - T, ln(r/R,) -- - T, - T, ln(R,/R,) R, I r I R,

and

T - T, - ln(r/R3) --

T, - T3 ln(R,IR,) R3 I r I R4

(2.32a)

(2.32 b)
(2.32~)

Equation 2.31 can be applied to the thermal circuit to evaluate each resistance. The results become: