EXAMPLE 9–4 Heat Loss through a Double-Pane Window
The vertical 0.8-m-high, 2-m-wide double-pane window shown in Fig. 9–29
consists of two sheets of glass separated by a 2-cm air gap at atmospheric pressure.
If the glass surface temperatures across the air gap are measured to be
12°C and 2°C, determine the rate of heat transfer through the window.
SOLUTION Two glasses of a double-pane window are maintained at specified
temperatures. The rate of heat transfer through the window is to be determined.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist. 2 Air is an ideal gas. 3 Radiation
heat transfer is not considered.
Properties The properties of air at the average temperature of Tave (T1
T2)/2 (12
2)/2 7°C and 1 atm pressure are (Table A-15)
k 0.02416 W/m °C Pr 0.7344
1.399 105 m2/s
Analysis We have a rectangular enclosure filled with air. The characteristic
length in this case is the distance between the two glasses, L 0.02 m. Then
the Rayleigh number becomes