Week 13 Lecture Note: MEC701 HEAT TRANSFER

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Radiation Heat Transfer (Sections 13-1 to 13-4)

Radiation exchange between surfaces depends on two parameters: 1) the emissivities of all surfaces
involved and 2) the view factors between surfaces.
We have already learned about emissivity in Chapter 12. Now we will focus on the view factor.
Ai

Q ij net radiation heat transfer from surface Ai to surface Aj

i
j Aj

Q i j radiation leaving surface Ai and intercepted by surface Aj

Q j i radiation leaving surface Aj and intercepted by surface Ai
Q ij = Q i j Q j i
Q i total net radiation heat transfer from surface i
N

Q i Q ij
j 1

The view factor Fij is defined as the fraction of the radiation leaving surface Ai that is intercepted by
surface Aj:
radiation leaving surface Ai and intercepted by surface A j Q i j

Fij
total net radiation heat transfer from surface A
Q
i

For surfaces that are diffuse emitters and reflectors and have uniform radiosity (J = E + G), the view
factors for various 2-D geometries are given in Table 13-2 and for various 3-D geometries in Table 13-1
and Figures 13-5, 13-6, 13-7 and 13-8.

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Figure 13-5: Two aligned parallel rectangles of equal size.

Figure 13-6: Two perpendicular rectangles with a common edge.

Figure 13-8: Two concentric cylinders of finite length.

Figure 13-7: Two coaxial parallel disks.

The following view factor relations can be used to determine view factor:
1. The reciprocity relation:
Ai Fi j A j F j i
N

2. The summation rule:

i j

j 1

3. The superposition rule: Fi j k Fi j Fi k and F j k i

Ai
Fij
Aj

Fj-k
Ak

Aj+k = Aj + Ak

A j F j i Ak Fk i
A jk

(where j+k is a whole surface)

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4. The symmetry rule: Fi j Fi k and F j i Fk i (if surfaces j and k are symmetric about surface i.)

5. If a surface is flat or convex (i.e., it does not see itself), then its view factor Fii 0 .
or
6. If a surface is concave, then its view factor Fii 0 .
7. The crossed-strings method for between 2-D surfaces:

For example: An enclosure formed by two spheres

Surface

: a concave surface

According to point #5: F11 = 0

According to point #6: F22 0

Surface

: a convex surface

According to point #2:

F11 + F12 = 1 F12 = 1 F11 = 1
and F21 + F22 = 1 F22 = 1 F21
But according to point #1: F21

A1
F12
A2

D
A
A
F22 1 1 F12 1 1 1 1
A2
A2
D2

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Radiation Exchange between Diffuse, Gray Surfaces in an Enclosure

The following assumptions are made for simplifying the analysis:
1. Each surface is isothermal and has uniform radiosity as well as irradiation.
2. Each surface is opaque, diffuse and gray.
3. The medium within the enclosure is nonparticipating (such as air).
Consider an enclosure with N isothermal surfaces:

Surface AN: TN, N

Surface A1: T1, 1

Surface Aj: Tj, j

Ji

Gi

.
.

Surface Ai: Ti, i

The radiosity ( J i Ei i Gi ) is the radiative heat flux leaving a surface of interest Ai. The irradiation
(Gi) is the radiative heat flux incoming to the surface of interest Ai. Therefore, the net radiative heat flux
from the surface Ai can be expressed as q i J i Gi or the net radiative heat transfer from the surface Ai
is Q q A A J G .
i

For an opaque, diffuse, gray surface, we have i 1 i 1 i (by Kirchoffs law). The radiosity may
then be expressed as J i i Ebi 1 i Gi Gi

J i i Ebi
.
1 i

Therefore, the net radiative heat transfer from the surface Ai can be obtained as

J i Ebi Ebi J i
A

Q i Ai J i i
i i Ebi J i
Eq. (13-24) or (I)
1 i 1 i 1 i

i i
which can be represented by an equivalent electrical circuit representation as follows:

Figure 13-21: Electrical analogy of surface resistance to radiation,

also called surface radiative resistance.

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The existence of the surface radiative resistance ( Ri ) is due to the fact that there is a reduction of
emission power (Ei) from the surface Ai with emissivity i < 1 (for a non-black surface). For a black
surface, i = 1 and Ri = 0; and hence, J i E bi Ti 4 .
The total irradiation heat transfer of surface Ai (i.e., Ai Gi ) is the summation of all radiosities heat
transfer from all surfaces ( A j J j ) (including the surface Ai itself if it is a concave surface) intercepted by
the surface Ai:
N

Ai Gi F j i A j J j
j 1

j 1

j 1

or by the reciprocity relation ( Ai Fi j A j F j i ), Ai Gi Fi j Ai J j Gi Fi j J j

Substituting into the equation of net radiative heat transfer from the surface Ai gives
N

Q i Ai J i Fi j J j
j 1

The radiosity from the surface Ai is the sum of the portions of the radiosity ( Fi j J i ) intercepted all the
surfaces in the enclosure:
N

J i Fi j J i
j 1

Hence, finally, the equation of net radiative heat transfer from the surface Ai becomes
N

N
Q i Ai Fi j J i Fi j J j
j 1

j 1
Ai Fi j J i J j
N

Eq. (13-32) or (II)

j 1
N

Ji J j

Ji J j

Q ij

1 j 1 Rij
j 1

AF
i i j
which can be represented by an equivalent electrical circuit representation as follows:
j 1

Jj

Q ij

Rij
Ji

1
Ai Fi j

Figure 13-22: Electrical analogy of space resistance to radiation,

also called space (or geometrical) radiative resistance.

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The existence of the space radiative resistance ( Rij ) is due to the fact that there is a reduction of
radiation exchange between surface Ai and surface Aj due to geometrical exposure between the surfaces.
Combining Eqs. (I) and (II), we have:

N J J
Ebi J i
i
j

1 i j 1 1

A
F
i
i

i ij

or

Eq. (13-33) or (III)

N J J
Ebi J i
j
i
Ri
j 1 Ri j

Eq. (13-33) or (III)

This expression represents a radiation balance for the radiosity node (Ji) associated with surface Ai, i.e.:
N

Q i Q ij
j 1

which can be represented by an equivalent electrical circuit representation as follows:

J1
Ji

Ebi

Figure 13-23: Network representation of net radiation heat transfer

from surface i to the remaining surfaces of an N-surface enclosure.

Jj

JN

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Applications of Eqs. (II) and (III) for solving radiation exchange between surfaces in an enclosure
Three enclosure problems:
1. All surfaces (i = 1 to N) have prescribed temperatures (i.e. all T (hence Ebi) are known):
Eq. (13-33) or (III) will be used to set up radiation balance for all surfaces, resulting N equations
with N unknowns of Ji:
1 i N
Eq. (13-35)
Ti 4 J i
F J J j
i j 1 i j i
Solve for Ji. Then the net radiative heat transfer from a non-black surface Ai can be evaluated as
A
Q i i i Ebi J i , where Ebi Ti 4 .
Eq. (13-24)
1 i
If a surface Ai is black, its net radiative heat transfer can be evaluated as
Q i Ai Fi j Ebi J j , where Ebi Ti 4 .
N

Eq. (13-34)

j 1

2. All surfaces (i = 1 to N) have prescribed heat transfer or heat flux (i.e. all Q or q are known):
Eq. (13-32) or (II) will be used to set up radiation balance for all surfaces, resulting N equations with
N unknowns of Ji:
Q i Ai Fi j J i J j
N

Eq. (13-34)

j 1

1/ 4

1 Q 1 i

J i .
Solve for Ji. Then the temperature of a surface Ai can be evaluated as Ti i

Ai i
3. Some surfaces (i = 1 to M) have prescribed temperatures (i.e. their T are known) and other surfaces (i
= M+1 to N) have prescribed heat transfer or heat flux (i.e. their Q or q are known):
Eq. (13-35) or (III) will be used to set up radiation balance for surfaces i = 1 to M and Eq. (13-34) or
(II) will be used to set up radiation balance for surfaces i = M+1 to N, resulting N equations with N
unknowns of Ji. Solve for Ji. Then the net radiative heat transfer Q i can be evaluated for non-black
N
A
surfaces as Q i i i Ebi J i or for black surfaces as Q i Ai Fi j Ebi J j for surfaces i = 1
1 i
j 1

1 Q
to M, and the temperature Ti can be evaluated as Ti i
Ai
to N.

1 i

J i

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for surfaces i = M+1

Note:
Special cases:
1. If all surfaces in an enclosure are black surfaces (i.e. i 1 ), then all surface radiative resistances are
zero (i.e. Ri 0 ). In this case, all J i E bi Ti 4 and Eq. (II) becomes:
N

Q i Ai Fi j Ti 4 T j4

Eq. (13-20)

j 1

2. If a surface Ai in an enclosure is insulated at the back and convection on the front surface is
negligible, then the net radiation transfer for the surface is zero (i.e. Q i = 0). The surface in this case

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is called a reradiating surface (because the absorbed irradiation must all be re-emitted, i.e. Ei i Gi

J
and Gi = Ji), and its temperature is given by Ebi J i Ti i

emissivity of the reradiating surface. (See Example 13-9.)

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, which is independent of the

3. If there are only two diffuse, gray surfaces forming an enclosure, the net radiation exchange between
the two surfaces can be expressed in the following general form:

Q 1 Q 2 Q 12

T14 T24

1 1
1 2
1

1 A1 A1 F12 2 A2

Eq. (13-36)

Some specific two-surface enclosures are presented in Table 13-3 with their simplified net radiation
exchange equations.

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Example of Radiation Exchange in an Enclosure #1

Consider thermal radiation in the Quonset hut shown below. Although the hut is made of corrugated
commercial sheet steel, the hut can be approximated as a smooth semi-cylindrical structure. The radius
of the hut is 5.2 m and the length is 12.8 m. Under winter conditions, the inside of the ceiling, end walls
and doors have a temperature of -10C. The bare concrete floor is maintained at 20C by a radiant floor
heating system. All doors and openings are shut. Calculate the radiant heat transfer rate from the floor to
the ceiling, end walls and doors:
(a) Assuming all interior surfaces are ideal black bodies. (This would be the maximum possible heat
transfer rate and heat load due to radiation.)
(b) Using realistic values for the emissivity of the concrete floor and commercial sheet steel ceiling and
end walls.

Example of Radiation Exchange in an Enclosure #2

Two parallel plates with dimensions 0.5 m 1.0 m are spaced 0.5 m apart as shown below. The upper
plate is maintained at T1= 1000C and has an emissivity of 1 = 0.2. The lower plate is maintained at T2=
500C and has an emissivity of 2 = 0.5. The plates are located in a large room with walls that are
maintained at T3= 27C. The plates exchange heat with each other and the room. Consider only the
horizontal surfaces.
(a) Calculate all the shape factors.
(b) Calculate the radiation heat transfer rate from each plate and to the room.