Radiation Heat Transfer

P M V Subbarao
Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
IIT Delhi

Select a Suitable Geometry to meet

the industrial needs...

How to Make Things to Look Beautiful

How to Make Things to Look Beautiful

Radiosity
The radiosity of a surface is the rate at which
radiation energy leaves a surface per unit area.

Spectral Radiosity:

J ( )

2 / 2

I , , cos sin dd
,e r

0 0

Total Radiosity

J
0

2 / 2

I , , cos sin dd d
,e r

0 0

Radiative Heat Transfer

Consider the heat transfer between two
black surfaces, as shown in Figure.
What is the rate of heat transfer into
Surface B?
To find this, we will first look at the
emission from A to B.
Surface A emits radiation as described in

q A,emitted AA T

4
A A

This radiation is emitted in all directions, and only a fraction of it

will actually strike Surface B.
This fraction is called the shape factor, F.

The amount of radiation striking Surface B is therefore:

qB ,incident FA B AA T

4
A A

All the incident radiation will contribute to heating of Surface B :

q B ,absorbed FA BA T

4
A A

Above equation is the amount of radiation gained by Surface B

from Surface A.
To find the net heat transfer rate at B, we must now subtract the
amount of radiation emitted by B:

qB ,emitted A T

4
B B

The net radiative heat transfer (gain) rate at Surface B is

q B qB ,absorbed q B ,emitted
qB FA BA T A T
4
A A

4
B B

Similarly, the net radiative heat transfer (loss) rate at Surface A is

q A FB AA T A T
4
B B

4
A A

What is the relation between qA and qB ?

Shape Factors
Shape factor, F, is a geometrical
factor which is determined by the
shapes and relative locations of
two surfaces.
Figure illustrates this for a
simple case of cylindrical source
and planar surface.
Both the cylinder and the plate
are infinite in length.
In this case, it is easy to see that
the shape factor is reduced as the
distance between the source and
plane increases.
The shape factor for this simple
geometry is simply the cone angle
() divided by 2

Geometrical Concepts in Radiation Heat Transfer

Human Shape Factors

Wherever artificial climates are created for human occupation, the

aim of the design is that individuals experience thermal comfort in
the environment.
Among other factors thermal comfort depends on mean radiant
temperature.

Flame to Furnace Wall Shape Factors

Radiative Heat Exchange between Two Differential

Area Elements

The elements dAi and dAj are isothermal at

temperatures Ti and Tj respectively.

The normals of these elements are at angles

i and j respectively to their common
normal.
The total energy per unit time leaving dAi
and incident upon dAj is:

dAj
nj
ni

d Qi j I b ,i cos i di dAi
di

dA j cos j

dAi

di is the solid angle subtended by dAj when viewed from dAi.

dAj
nj
The monochromatic energy per unit time
leaving dAi and incident on dAj is

ni

j
r

i
dAi

d Q ,i j I b ,i cos i di dAi d
3

The total energy per unit time leaving dAi and incident upon dAj is:

d Qi j I b ,i cos i di dAi
2

The monochromatic energy per unit time leaving dAi and incident
on dAj is:

d Q ,i j I b ,i cos i di dAi d
3

d Q ,i j d Q ,i j I b ,i cos i di dAi d
2

The monochromatic energy per unit time leaving A real body

element dAi and incident on dAj is:

d Q ,i j i I b ,i cos i di dAi d
3

d Qi j d Q ,i j i I b ,i cos i di dAi d
2

di

dA j cos j
r2

d Qb ,i j
2

I b ,i cos i dA j cos j dAi

dAj

nj
ni

j
r

i
dAi

d Qb , j i
2

I b , j cos j dAi cos i dA j

r

The fraction of energy leaving a black surface element dAi

that arrive at black body dAj is defined as the Geometric configuration
Factor dFij.

dFi j

d Qb ,i j
eb dAi

For a diffusive surface

eb T
Ib

I b ,i cos i dA j cos j dAi

2

r
4
Ti dAi

dFi j

Ti cos i dA j cos j dAi

2

4
Ti dAi
4

dFi j

dFi j

cos i cos j dA j

Configuration Factor for rate of heat Exchange from dAi to dAj

dFi j

cos i cos j dA j

Configuration Factor for Energy Exchange from dAj to dAi

dF j i

cos i cos j dAi

Reciprocity of Differential-elemental Configuration

Factors
Consider the products of :

dAi dFi j dAi

cos i cos j dA j

r 2

dA j dF j i dA j
dA j dF j i dAi dFi j

cos i cos j dAi

r 2

cos i cos j dAi dA j

Net Rate of Heat Exchange between Two differential Black

Elements
The net energy per unit time transferred from black element dAi
to dAj along emissive path r is then the difference of i to j and j to i.

d Qb ,i j d Qb ,i j d Qb ,i j
2

d Qb ,i j

b ,i

I b , j cos i cos j dAi dA j

r

Ib of a black element =

Ti T cos i cos j dAi dA j

2
r
4

d Qb ,i j

eb T
Ib

4
j

Finally the net rate of heat transfer from dAi to dAj is:

d 2Qb ,i j Ti 4 T j4 dFi j dAi Ti 4 T j4 dF j i dA j

Configuration Factor between a Differential Element

and a Finite Area
dAi
j

Aj, Tj

j
i
dAi, Ti

dFdAi dA j

cos i cos j dA j

Integrating over Aj to obtain:

FdAi A j

cos i cos j dA j

Aj

FdAi A j

dAi

Aj

Aj

cos i cos j dA j

Configuration Factor for Two Finite Areas

dAi
j

Aj, Tj

i
Ai, Ti

FAi A j

cos i cos j dA j dAi

2
A A

r
i j
Ai

FAi A j

FA j Ai

cos i cos j dA j dAi

2
A A

r
i j
Ai

Ai A j

cos i cos j dA j dAi

Aj

Ai FAi A j A j FA j Ai

Radiation Exchange between Two Finite Areas

Qi j Ti Ai Fi j
4

Q j i T A j F j i
4
j

The net rate of radiative heat exchange between Ai and Aj

Qi j Qi j Q j i Ti Ai Fi j T A j F j i
4

4
j

Qi j Ti Ai Fi j T A j F j i
4

4
j

Using reciprocity theorem:

Qi j Ai Fi j Ti T
4

4
j

Qi j A j F j i Ti T
4

4
j

Configuration Factor Relation for An Enclosure

T1,A1

Radiosity of a black surface i

0 0

T2,A1

TN,AN
JN

J1

J2

.
.
.

I ,e ( , , ) cos sin d d d

.
.

For each surface, i

N

F
j 1

ij

Ji

1
The summation rule !

Ti,Ai

.
.

The summation rule follows from

the conservation requirement that al
radiation leaving the surface I must
be intercepted by the enclosures
surfaces.
The term Fii appearing in this
summation represents the fraction of
the radiation that leaves surface i and
is directly intercept by i.

T1,A1
TN,AN
JN

.
.

J1

T2,A1

J2

.
.
.

Ji

.
.

Ti,Ai

.
.

If the surface is concave, it sees itself and Fii is non zero.

If the surface is convex or plane, Fii = 0.
To calculate radiation exchange in an enclosure of N surfaces, a
total of N2 view factors is needed.

Real Opaque Surfaces

Kichoffs Law: substances that are poor emitters are
also poor absorbers for any given wavelength
At thermal equilibrium
Emissivity of surface ( = Absorptivity(
Transmissivity of solid surfaces = 0
Emissivity is the only significant parameter
Emissivities vary from 0.1 (polished surfaces) to 0.95
(blackboard)

Complication
In practice, we cannot just consider the emissivity or
absorptivity of surfaces in isolation
Radiation bounces backwards and forwards between
surfaces
Use concept of radiosity (J) = emissive power for real
surface, allowing for emissivity, reflected radiation, etc

Radiosity of Real Opaque Surface

Consider an opaque surface.
If the incident energy flux is G, a part of
it is absorbed and the rest of it is
reflected.
The surface also emits an energy flux of
E.

J Eb G

Rate of Energy leaving a surface: J A

Rate of Energy incident on this surface: GA
Net rate of energy leaving the surface: A(J-G)
Rate of heat transfer from a surface by radiation: Q = A(J-G)

q A(Eb G G )

Enclosure of Real Surfaces

T1,A1
T2,A1

TN,AN
J1

JN

Ei
Gi

J2

.
.
.

iGi

Ji

.
.
For Every ith surface

Ti,Ai
The net rate of heat transfer by radiation:

qi Ai ( Ei i Gi Gi ) Ai J i Gi

J i ( i Eb ,i i Gi )
For any real surface:

i i i 1

For an opaque surface:

i i 1 i 1 i

If the entire enclosure is at Thermal Equilibrium, From Kirchoffs law:

i i 1 i i 1 i
Substituting all above:

J i i Ebi

J i ( i Eb ,i 1 i Gi ) Gi
1 i

J i i Ebi

qi Ai J i
1 i

E J
i
qi Ai bi

Ai
i

Surface Resistance of A Real Surface

Black body Ebi

Real Surface Resistance

Ji Actual Surface

qi

1 i
Ai
i

Ebi Ji : Driving Potential

Ji
Ei
Gi

1 i
Ai :surface radiative resistance
i
Qi

iGi

Radiation Exchange between Real Surfaces

To solve net rate of Radiation from a surface, the radiosity Ji must be
known.
It is necessary to consider radiation exchange between the surfaces of
encclosure.
The irradiation of surface i can be evaluated from the radiosities of all
the other surfaces in the enclosure.
From the definition of view factor : The total rate at which radiation
reaches surface i from all surfaces including i, is:
N

Ai Gi F ji A j J j
j 1

From reciprocity relation

N

Ai Gi Fij Ai J j
j 1

qi Ai J i Gi
N

Gi Fij J j
j 1

qi Ai J i Fij J j
j 1

N
N

qi Ai Fij J i Fij J j
j 1
j 1

N
N

qi Ai Ai Fij J i J j Qij
j 1
j 1

A F J

Qi Ai

j 1

ij

J j Qij
j 1

This result equates the net rate of radiation transfer from surface
i, Qi to the sum of components Qij related to radiative exchange
with the other surfaces.
Each component may be represented by a network element for
which (Ji-Jj) is driving potential and (AiFij)-1 is a space or
geometrical resistance.

E J
bi
i

A
F
J

i ij
i
j
i
1

i
j 1

Ai
i

Qi Ai

Geometrical (View Factor) Resistance

Relevance?
Heat-transfer coefficients:
view factors (can surfaces see each other?
Radiation is line of sight )
Emissivities (can surface radiate easily? Shiny
surfaces cannot)

Basic Concepts of Network Analysis

Analogies with electrical circuit analysis

Blackbody emissive power = voltage
Resistance (Real +Geometric) = resistance
Heat-transfer rate = current

Resistance Network for ith surface interaction in an

Enclosure
Q
i1

T1,A1
TN,AN

J1

JN

Gi

.
.
.

Ei

J2

.
.
.

iGi

Ji

Ti,Ai

J1

T2,A1

J2
1
Ai Fi 1

.
.

Qi2

Qi

Ebi

1 i
i

Ji

1
Ai Fi 2
1
Ai Fi 3

1
Ai Fi N

1
Ai Fi N 1

J3
JN-1

JN
QiN

Qi3

QiN-1