Analysis of radiative heat transfer in participating media using arbitrary nodal distribution

Journal Article · Sun Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1989 · Numerical Heat Transfer, Part B: Fundamentals; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/10407799008961741· OSTI ID:5048827

Saltiel, C ^[1]; Naraghi, M H.N. ^[2]

---

1. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of Florida, Center for Advanced Studies in Engineering, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (US)
2. Manhattan Coll., Riverdale, NY (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

Prediction or radiative heat transfer in absorbing-emitting-scattering media is important in the design and analysis of energy conversion devices, such as furnaces, combustion chambers, and nuclear fusion reactors with plasmas, in the processing of materials, such as glass, and in the study of atmospheric radiation. Due to the complex nature of the radiation process, in which heat transport occurs at short and long distances, analytical solutions to practical problems are rare. Although approximate solutions have been developed (1-3), their applications are limited to simple geometries, often require laborious derivations, and can overestimate heat transfer rates. Accurate solutions to many practical problems require the implementation of numerical calculations. This paper presents a numerical procedure for solving radiative heat transfer problems within an absorbing-emitting-scattering media using variable nodal placement. Based on the discrete exchange factor method, in which exchange factors are calculated from point to point (eliminating the need for multiple integrations), the procedure is shown to display good accuracy and great flexibility. Examples for irregular geometries illustrate the compatibility of the method with finite-element mesh generators. The authors show how local mesh refinement can be used to enhance the solution resolution in predetermined regions, which is especially important where high gradients exist. In addition, the authors discuss the versatility of the procedure for calculating combined-mode (i.e., radiation in the presence of conduction and/or convection) problems.

• OSTI ID: 5048827
• Journal Information: Numerical Heat Transfer, Part B: Fundamentals; (United States), Journal Name: Numerical Heat Transfer, Part B: Fundamentals; (United States) Vol. 17:2; ISSN NHBFE; ISSN 1040-7790
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420400* -- Engineering-- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
421000 -- Engineering-- Combustion Systems
654001 -- Radiation & Shielding Physics-- Radiation Physics
Shielding Calculations & Experiments
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700200 -- Fusion Energy-- Fusion Power Plant Technology
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
CALCULATION METHODS
COMBUSTION CHAMBERS
COOLING
DESIGN
ENERGY TRANSFER
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
FURNACES
GLASS
HEAT TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
RADIATION TRANSPORT
RADIATIVE COOLING
THERMODYNAMICS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS