Heat transfer, energy needed to heat house

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the energy needed to heat a warehouse based on heat loss through its walls, considering the effects of insulation. The subject area includes thermodynamics and heat transfer principles.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply the equation Q=kA(ΔT/Δx) to find the energy required for heating. Some participants confirm this approach, while others raise questions about incorporating time into the calculations for energy.

Discussion Status

Participants are engaged in clarifying the relationship between power and energy, with some guidance provided on the necessity of including time in the calculations. Multiple interpretations of the problem are being explored, particularly regarding the relevance of certain information.

Contextual Notes

The problem specifies certain parameters, such as wall thickness and thermal conductivity, but does not provide details on the desired outcome for the heating bill reduction, leaving some assumptions under discussion.

Leaffy
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Hi everyone!
First time here, but I'm having trouble with a problem. Here goes:

On a given day, heat losses through the 20cm-thick walls of a warehouse are 0.02 kW/m2 when the outside wall temperature is 5C and the inside wall temperature is 25C. The owner would like to reduce her heating bill by adding urethane insulation to the outside wall. k:urethane = 0.026 W/m.K

a. If the walls have an area of 200 m2, what is the total energy (in kJ and kWh) needed to heat the house that day (a day has 24 hours) without the insulation (ignore windows and doors)
b. What is the thermal conductivity of the wall?
c. Determine the thickness of the insulation needed to reduce the heating bill that day by a factor of 2.


So the equation I'm looking at is Q=kA(ΔT/Δx)
I think I can use 0.02 kW/m2 multiplied by area to get a Wattage for power, but I don't think it's right.

Once I have power, I can do the rest, but this has been driving me nuts all day.

Your help is much appreciated.
 
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Leaffy said:
So the equation I'm looking at is Q=kA(ΔT/Δx)
I think I can use 0.02 kW/m2 multiplied by area to get a Wattage for power, but I don't think it's right.
Actually that looks like the right approach to me.
 
Thank you, but what do I do about time? Or is that extraneous information?
 
Leaffy said:
I think I can use 0.02 kW/m2 multiplied by area to get a Wattage for power...
Yes, you'll get the power, but question (a) is asking for energy. So you need to know the time to get the energy from the power that you calculate.
 

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