Large Tank Heating
Large Tank Heating
(OP)
Hi everyone,
I've been working through a design problem and am hoping that someone here can validate the workflow I'm using is correct. I've got some reasonable results, but an error could result in an expensive mistake I'd like to avoid.
We are designing a 120' diameter x 21' tall tank full of unmixed water that needs to be maintained at 100F. An internal heating loop will be installed around the interior perimeter, ~6" away from the wall. Heat will be supplied by 130F hot water supply.
What is the correct approach for calculating the length of pipe required to transfer a desired heat load? I'd like to compare the thermal performance of different pipe materials and thicknesses so I am calculating the overall heat transfer coefficient. I'm mostly curious to find out if I'm accounting for forced/free convection correctly.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
I've been working through a design problem and am hoping that someone here can validate the workflow I'm using is correct. I've got some reasonable results, but an error could result in an expensive mistake I'd like to avoid.
We are designing a 120' diameter x 21' tall tank full of unmixed water that needs to be maintained at 100F. An internal heating loop will be installed around the interior perimeter, ~6" away from the wall. Heat will be supplied by 130F hot water supply.
What is the correct approach for calculating the length of pipe required to transfer a desired heat load? I'd like to compare the thermal performance of different pipe materials and thicknesses so I am calculating the overall heat transfer coefficient. I'm mostly curious to find out if I'm accounting for forced/free convection correctly.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
RE: Large Tank Heating
Minimum outside temperature and maximum wind velocity determine heat lost through the tank's surface by convection. There is also radiation loss to space. The outgoing heat is the sumation of all losses through the tank surface. Watts lost.
To maintain equilibrium, the heat transferred from heating pipe to the tank water must equal the heat lost by the tank to the outside environment.
Heat transfer of the pipe contents to the water can be calculated in terms of heat loss per foot of pipe. Watts/meter (of heating pipe). Length of the heating pipe required is Watts lost / Watts/meter.
Inside surface film transfer of the heating pipe to pipe wall is forced convection.
Outside surface film transfer from the heating pipe to tank water is free convection, as is the film coefficient for heat transfer between tank water and tank wall. Heat transfer of tank to air is free, with no wind, forced with wind. With winds, some portion of the tank wall not exposed could be free, exposed portions forced. You may be able to determine the tank heat losses as "exposed" or "sheltered", in which case heat loss may be determined more directly, as for this oil filled tank toolbox example,
https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/heat-loss-oil-t...
You may be able to simplify the wind considerations and just use the same sheltered to exposed loss ratios of the toolbox example for the outside tank wall heat loss calculation. I'd try it, unless you have some unusually high wind or exposure considerations to account for.
So, where do we start? It would help if you ask specific questions and post the calculations you have done so far. Free convection happens when air is not being mechanically moved by some force, such as wind pressures, a fan, or a pump, or a mechanical mixer, or vortex vanes. Free convection is fluid movement basically by natural density currents alone.
RE: Large Tank Heating
You have a small delta T and the opportunity for very long contact times (long length).
Your outlet water will be very near 100F.
If the ambient temp is going to be below about 80F you will need to insulate the tank.
And without mixing (even just a gentle stir) you will have very nonuniform temperatures.
It is just a matter of a heat balance.
When you first start heating it will take a long time but keeping it warm is strictly related to heat loss to the environment.
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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed
RE: Large Tank Heating
RE: Large Tank Heating
Also remember the feed pump should develop the dp required to get this water through the coils for all operating scenarios. Break up the coil into 2 or 3 parallel sections so as to reduce pumping dp. Add a generous fouling factor fo on the outside if this water can corrode the coils, cause scaling or is dirt laden. Avoid using externally finned pipe ( to make up for low ho) for obvious reasons.
For higher heating medium feed temp, take into account the scaling tendency of this "unmixed water" in this tank. At above a given tube OD film temp ( tube OD film temp can be calculated), the water may drop out Ca and Mg fouling scale onto the tubes, reducing U. The GPSA has guidance on the calculation of the scaling tendency ( using the Langelier Index) in the chapter on water treatment for a given TDS and pH. Check that film temp at the hot end of these coils is less the estimated scaling temp for this water. If this turns out to be a problem that is difficult to resolve economically, one option would be to inject antiscale inhibitor upstream of this tank.
RE: Large Tank Heating
Consider the document attached about storage tank heat losses to understand the issue with your proposal .
Good Luck
Pierre
RE: Large Tank Heating
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RE: Large Tank Heating
What a contribution !
Regards
Pierre
RE: Large Tank Heating
RE: Large Tank Heating
The only downside to making the loop too long is wasted pump power.
Even if you circulate the tank, the water will be nearly static, so strictly limited by conduction (with a dead boundary layer).
However you estimate the U make sure that it is conservative enough.
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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed
RE: Large Tank Heating
RE: Large Tank Heating
You may want to use this link to get an estimate for heat transfer coefficient :
https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/heat-transfer-c...
Note : heat loss calculator vertical tank
https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=...
Be conservative , OHT coefficient should be low .
One way to improve it could be to use submersible agitator (google Flygt submersible agitator).
Good luck
Pierre
RE: Large Tank Heating
Trying to buy 316L with Mo above the min (2.00-2.1%) requires special mill orders.
Though with Ni prices where they are you should be able to buy light gauge 2205 (sch 5) for less than good sch10 316L.
The 2205 has higher corrosion resistance, better thermal conductivity, and lower thermal expansion.
And it will have a higher pressure rating at sch5 then 316L at sch10.
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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed