could a kind sole explian to me, the biggest simpleton the uk has. how do you messure heat loss?

Answer 1

Oh, bless. I don't know the answer to your question, but what a polite question it is.

xx

Answer 2

This question, like many, has more than one correct answer and is more involved than at first appears.

Assuming that whatever object is losing heat its heat energy is not being replaced by some form of work done or incumbent heat flow, then one of the simplest methods would be to measure the temperature at regular intervals. You would need to know some other factors regarding the object such as its mass and the material it is made from. Once a few measurements of temperature have been made then the rate of change of temperature is directly related to the heat loss with the object mass and its heat capacity being constant multipliers.

There are are a number of assumptions here. First the object is uniform and is not changing phase (e.g. liquid to solid, gas to liquid). Secondly, that the rate of heat loss is slow compared to the amount of heat energy within the object (so that the loss is at a constant rate). This is an important assumption because there may be multiple heat loss mechanisms which cause differing rates of temperature fall depending on the temperature of the object. Third, that there are no other forms of work being undertaken or forms of heat flow into the object - this is important because if the object is doing work or there is heat flow then the temperature of the object is no longer related to the heat loss. Also, if the object is gaseous then there are more problems due to volume and pressure changes, so lets assume it is a solid! Moreover, we would also have to assume that the object is not decaying due to radioactivity.

All heat-loss mechanisms would be captured using this method including conduction, convection and radiation since the temperature of the object gives a view of the total heat energy on the object.

Not the most scientific of explanations, but hopefully helpful nevertheless.

Answer 3

I once worked at an MOD Naval Base, where we measured the heat loss of the ships refrigeration compartment. This was done by putting electrical heaters in the compartment measuring inside and outside ambient temperatures, switching on heaters until the temperature had stabilised at a high, switching off heaters and recording temperatures every half hour.

Answer 4

An infrared technique for heat-loss measurement:

A device called a heat-flow reference pad was developed that makes it possible to estimate quantitatively the heat-loss rate at the surface of a building without the need for a conventional heat-flow meter to be mounted on the surface. Technical considerations for the design of a heat-flow reference pad are presented. The infrared measurement technique predicted heat-loss rates in the laboratory and field within approximately 12 percent.

http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1977STIN...7725657B

Online heat loss calculator for pipes and tubes

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/heat-loss-d_506.html

http://www.search.com/search?q=heat+loss+measurement

Answer 5

By taking a current temperature reading using a digital thermometer and then noting the next reading at the required interval to see any discrepancy?