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Heat Loss from Oil filled Tanks and Pipe Lines
Heat loss from insulated and non insulated sheltered and exposed tanks and pipes
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An average heat loss from oil in storage tanks and pipe lines can be estimated to:
| Application | Temperature of Oil (oF) | Heat Transfer Rate - α - (Btu/hr ft2 oF) | |
| Without Insulation | Insulated | ||
| Sheltered tanks | Up to 50 | 1.2 | 0.3 |
| 50 to 80 | 1.3 | 0.33 | |
| 80 to 100 | 1.4 | 0.35 | |
| Exposed tanks | Up to 50 | 1.4 | 0.35 |
| 50 to 80 | 1.5 | 0.38 | |
| 80 to 100 | 1.6 | 0.4 | |
| Tank in Pit | All Temperatures | 1.2 | - |
| Sheltered Pipe Line | Up to 80 | 1.5 | 0.4 |
| 80 to 260 | 2.3 | 0.58 | |
| Exposed Pipe Line | Up to 80 | 1.8 | 0.45 |
| 80 to 260 | 2.75 | 0.7 | |
The total heat loss from the application can be expressed as:
Q = α A dt (1)
where
Q = heat loss (Btu/hr)
α = heat transfer rate (Btu/hr ft2 oF)
A = area (ft2)
dt = temperature difference (oF)
Example - Heat loss from an insulated exposed tank
For an insulated exposed tank with outside area of 1000 ft2, containing oil at 90oF and a surrounding temperature at 32oF, the Heat Transfer Rate - α - from the table is 0.4 Btu/hr ft2 oF.
The heat loss can be calculated as:
Q = (0.4 Btu/hr ft2 oF) (1000 ft2) ((90 oF) - (32 oF))
= 23,200 Btu/hr
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