Answer to Question #183123 in Mechanical Engineering for luke

Question

A spherical tank for storing liquid oxygen on the space shuttle is to be made from stainless steel of 0.8m outer diameter and 5mm wall thickness. The boiling point and latent heat of vaporization of liquid oxygen are 90K and 213kJ/kg respectively. The tank is to be installed in a large compartment whose temperature is to be maintained at 240K. A coating of insulation will cover the tank. Thermal conductivity of the tank and insulation are 9.2W/m-K and 0.000017W/m-K. Assuming the inside surface of the tank to be at 90K and the outside surface temperature of the insulation to be at 240K, determine the thickness of the insulation required to maintain oxygen loss due to boiling below 1kg/day.

Answer 1

Schematic for thermal tank and equivalent thermal circuit as follows: