How to Calculate Heat Loss in a Freezer Door Handle

[Hendon100]

Homework Statement

This is my first post on these forums, this problem is part of a lab and its part my end of year result but we never did anything on it in class so i have'nt a clue how to do it. Help would be really appreciated

The handle of a freezer door 12cm thick is attached by two brass bolts 0.75cm in diameter that pass through the entire door and are secured on the inside by nuts. The interior of the freezer is maintained at -32 degrees celsius and the room temperature is 34 degrees celsius; the thermal conductivity is 109W.M^-1.K^-1. Find the heat lost per hour through the bolts.

Homework Equations

Like i said, i haven't a clue. I don't know why we even were given this question.

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[tiny-tim]

Welcome to PF!

Hi Hendon100! Welcome to PF!

You don't need to know anything about heat loss …

just look at the units! …

you're told the power loss of the material in watts per metre per ºK, and power times time = energy, so (remembering to use both the diameter and the length) the energy loss in this case is … ?

 

[Hendon100]

Thanks for the help, I used this equation. I don't know if I am right though.

Power

= (thermal conductivity)(C.S.A)(difference in temp)​

=

Distance​

Thermal conductivity= 109
C.S.A= (3.75x10^-3)²(3.14)= 4.42x10^-5m²
Difference in temp=34-(-32)=66
Distance= .12m

Power=

(109)(4.42x10^-5)(66)​

= 2.65 Watts per bolt

.12​

I then multiplied this by 2 because there's 2 bolts. So 5.3 Watts overall

And then i just used the equation Power= Energy x Time

5.3(3600)= 19080 joules lost per hour

which seems a bit high for two little brass bolts but i could be wrong. Please reply to tell me if i did it right, and if not how do i do it. Thanks a lot.

 

[tiny-tim]

(you meant Energy = Power x Time )

Yes, it does look high, but the maths seems fine.

 

[Hendon100]

alright, thank you very much