Copper Tubes - Uninsulated Heat Losses
Heat loss from uninsulated copper pipes - dimensions ranging 1/2 - 4 inches.
Heat loss at various temperature differences between pipe and ambient air for 1/2" to 4" copper tubes - or pipes - are indicated below:
Note that it is temperature difference that is used - and that 1 oC of temperature difference equals to 1.8 oF temperature difference.
| Nominal bore | Heat loss for the fluid inside pipe (W/m) | Heat loss for the fluid inside pipe (Btu/hr ft) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature difference (oC) | Temperature difference (oF) | ||||||
| (mm) | (inches) | 22 | 38 | 55 | 40 | 68 | 99 |
| 15 | 1/2 | 21 | 32 | 45 | 22 | 34 | 47 |
| 22 | 3/4 | 28 | 43 | 60 | 29 | 45 | 64 |
| 28 | 1 | 34 | 53 | 76 | 36 | 56 | 79 |
| 35 | 1 1/4 | 41 | 64 | 89 | 43 | 67 | 93 |
| 42 | 1 1/2 | 47 | 74 | 104 | 49 | 77 | 108 |
| 54 | 2 | 59 | 93 | 131 | 62 | 97 | 136 |
| 67 | 2 1/2 | 71 | 111 | 156 | 74 | 116 | 162 |
| 76 | 3 | 83 | 129 | 181 | 87 | 135 | 189 |
| 108 | 4 | 107 | 165 | 232 | 111 | 172 | 241 |
Example - Heat Loss from a 2" Pipe
A 2" pipe with temperature 75 oC (167 oF) is located in a room with temperature 20 oC (68 oF). The temperature difference between the pipe and the ambient room is 55 oC (99 oF).
The heat loss from the pipe to the room can be estimated from the table (or chart) above to 131 W/m.
