How much heating surface area does a water tube boiler with a diameter of 3 1/2" and a length of 20' have?

To determine the heating surface area of a water tube boiler, you can use the formula for the surface area of a cylinder, which is calculated by the formula A = π * d * h, where A is the surface area, d is the diameter, and h is the height (or length) of the cylinder.

First, convert the diameter from inches to feet. The diameter of 3 1/2 inches is equal to 3.5 inches. To convert inches to feet, divide by 12:

3.5 inches ÷ 12 inches/foot = 0.29167 feet.

Next, convert the length of the boiler tube into feet, which is already given as 20 feet.

So now we calculate the surface area:

A = π * (0.29167 feet) * (20 feet).

Using 3.14 for π, perform the calculation:

A = 3.14 * 0.29167 * 20 = 18.32 square feet.

Thus, the correct answer is clearly validated through the calculations, and it confirms that the heating surface area of the water tube boiler is 18.32 square feet. This value is essential for understanding the efficiency and heating capability of the boiler