Pipe Air Temperature & Heat Loss Calculator

Calculates the minimum insulation thickness needed so that humid air flowing through the pipe does not reach its dew point before the outlet, and shows the resulting temperature profile and heat loss.

Process Inputs

Used to compute the dew point of the inlet air (Magnus-Tetens approximation). Only physically meaningful up to about 100°C.

Insulation

Typical mineral wool ≈ 0.035–0.045, foam glass ≈ 0.04–0.06, aerogel ≈ 0.015–0.02 W/(m·K).
Insulation thickness is no longer an input – it is calculated (see results) as the minimum thickness that keeps the outlet air temperature at or above its dew point, so no condensation occurs by the end of the pipe.

Ambient Conditions

Free convection in still air ≈ 5–10; light air movement ≈ 15–25; forced convection / wind ≈ 25–50 W/(m²·K).

Temperature Along the Pipe

Air temperature
Ambient temperature
Dew point (inlet)