Re: Why isn't water used as a thermal-insulation?

"Brablo" <gestureofrespect@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1133977863.886928.256480@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> It's specific heat (amount of energy to raise its temperature 1 degree)
> is very high (4.184 J/K). Why isn't water, treated with something to
> prevent it from freezing used as a housing insulation as opposed to
> fiberglass? Water can even deter fires a little better.

For insulation, thermal conductivity is the important
factor, not specific heat. Lower is better.

Thermal conductivity of water is about 0.58 , as compared
to say, Styrofoam, which is about 0.033 . Even air is
better at 0.026 . Fiberglass is around 0.04 . You might
note that the number for fiberglass indicates that it
is a worse insulator than air. Air would indeed be the
superior insulator if it only transported heat by
conduction. Unfortunately, air moves around and tends to
transport heat by convection too. Fiberglass stays in
place.


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Interesting Data Center
    ... water lines that running a duct the size I'd need. ... column rise 20+ feet, so the 5 to 6 feet would be no challenge for it. ... glycol-water mixture to both heat and cool using a heat pump. ... it entailed burying a long culvert-type corrugated pipe about five feet deep in the ground and then circulating air through the fifty or one hundred feet long pipe to moderate the temperature. ...
    (misc.news.internet.discuss)
  • Re: New boiler installed System 2000
    ... What temp does the 2000 heat water to, does it vary with outside temp ... 1978 I've added attic insulation. ... The water goes to about 180. ... Unlike gas or oil fired, there is no stack for hot air to leak from. ...
    (alt.home.repair)
  • Re: Its Hot Upstairs More Insulation or Attic Fan?
    ... so I can add insulation to both walls and ceiling. ... You say that downstairs stays cool enough that you don't use the central air. ... Since heat rises it would be normal for the upper floors to be considerably warmer than the lower floors Since heat rises the heat in the attic will have little effect on the ... of my second floor by more than 10 degrees? ...
    (alt.home.repair)
  • Re: venting dryer indoors
    ... at least iirc if one has forced air heat. ... because that could give adequate humidity all of the time. ... But evaporating the water takes about 10X more heat energy ... This is not a situation where the person is evaporating water just ...
    (alt.home.repair)
  • Re: Instant Cooling to 35deg.F
    ... for removing heat is the phase change happening at the surface of the ice. ... Air is an excellent thermal insulator. ... The advantage of water: it is a better conductor of heat than air (although I ...
    (alt.home.repair)