Heat losses from the windows are to be reduced by covering them from inside with a polystyrene insulation(kins = 0.027W/mK). Consider application of 25 mm-thick windows (kw = 1.4 W/m-K). The contact resistance between the glass and the insulation may be approximated as
(Rt,c =0.002 m2K/W), while the convection coefficient at the outside surface of the window is nominally losing heat
(h0 = 20 W/m2K). With the insulation, the convection coefficient at the inner surface is hi = 2 W/m2-K; without the insulation it is hi = 5 W/m2-K
(i) What is the percentage reduction in heat loss associated with the use of insulation?
(ii) If the total surface area of the windows is As = 12 m2, what are the heat losses associated with insulated and un insulated windows for interior and exterior temperatures of $T_{\infty },i$ = 20°C and T $T_{\infty },o$ = – 12°C ?
(iii) If the home is heated by a gas furnace operating at an efficiency of $\eta _{f}$= 0.80 and the natural gas is priced at Cg = Rs. 1 per MJ, what is the daily saving associated with covering windows for 12 hours?