Radiation: Processes and Properties

Surface Radiative Properties

Chapter 12
Sections 12.4 through 12.7

Emissivity

Surface Emissivity

Radiation emitted by a surface may be determined by introducing a property

(the emissivity) that contrasts its emission with the ideal behavior of a blackbody
at the same temperature.
The definition of the emissivity depends upon ones interest in resolving
directional and/or spectral features of the emitted radiation, in contrast
to averages over all directions (hemispherical and/or wavelengths (total).
The spectral, directional emissivity:
I ,e , , ,T
, , , ,T
I ,b ,T

The spectral, hemispherical emissivity (a directional average):

02 0 / 2 I ,e , , ,T cos sin d d
E ,T
,T

E ,b ,T
02 0 / 2 I ,b ,T cos sin d d

Emissivity (cont)

The total, hemispherical emissivity (a directional and spectral average):

,T E ,b ,T d ,
ET
T
0
Eb T
Eb T
To a reasonable approximation, the hemispherical emissivity is equal to
the normal emissivity.

n
Representative values of the total, normal emissivity:

Note:
Low emissivity of polished metals and increasing emissivity for unpolished
and oxidized surfaces.
Comparatively large emissivities of nonconductors.

Emissivity (cont)

Representative spectral variations:

Note decreasing ,n with increasing for metals and different behavior for nonmetals.
Representative temperature variations:

Why does n increase with increasing for tungsten and not for aluminum oxide?

Abs, Ref & Trans

Response to Surface Irradiation: Absorption, Reflection

and Transmission
There may be three responses of a semitransparent medium to irradiation:
Reflection from the medium G ,ref .

Absorption within the medium G ,abs .

Transmission through the medium G ,tr .
Radiation balance
G G ,ref G ,abs G ,tr
In contrast to the foregoing volumetric effects, the response of an opaque material
to irradiation is governed by surface phenomena and G ,tr 0.
G G ,ref G ,tr
The wavelength of the incident radiation, as well as the nature of the material,
determine whether the material is semitransparent or opaque.
Are glass and water semitransparent or opaque?

Abs, Ref & Trans (cont)

Unless an opaque material is at a sufficiently high temperature to emit visible

radiation, its color is determined by the spectral dependence of reflection in
response to visible irradiation.
What may be said about reflection for a white surface? A black surface?
Why are leaves green?

Absorptivity

Absorptivity of an Opaque Material

The spectral, directional absorptivity: Assuming negligible temperature dependence,

I
, ,
, , , ,i ,abs
I ,i , ,
The spectral, hemispherical absorptivity:
G ,abs 02 0 / 2 , , , I ,i , , cos sin d d

G
02 0 / 2 I ,i , , cos sin d d
To what does the foregoing result simplify, if the irradiation is diffuse?
If the surface is diffuse?
The total, hemispherical absorptivity:

G d
G
abs o
G
0 G d
If the irradiation corresponds to emission from a blackbody, how may the
above expression be rewritten?
The absorptivity is approximately independent of the surface temperature,
but if the irradiation corresponds to emission from a blackbody, why does
depend on the temperature of the blackbody?

Reflectivity

Reflectivity of an Opaque Material

The spectral, directional reflectivity: Assuming negligible temperature
dependence:

, , ,

I ,i ,ref , ,
I ,i , ,

The spectral, hemispherical reflectivity:

/2
G ,ref 02 0 , , , I ,i , , cos sin d d

G
I ,i , ,
To what does the foregoing result simplify if the irradiation is diffuse?
If the surface is diffuse?
The total, hemispherical reflectivity:

Gabs
0 G d

G
0 G d
Limiting conditions of diffuse and
spectral reflection. Polished and rough surfaces.

Reflectivity (cont)

Note strong dependence of and 1 on .

Is snow a highly reflective substance? White paint?

Transmissivity

Transmissivity

The spectral, hemispherical transmissivity: Assuming negligible temperature

dependence,
G ,tr

G

Note shift from semitransparent to opaque conditions at large and small wavelengths.
The total, hemispherical transmissivity:

Gtr
0 G ,tr d


G
0 G d

For a semitransparent medium,

1
1

Kirchhoffs Law

Kirchhoffs Law

Kirchhoffs law equates the total, hemispherical emissivity of a surface to its

total, hemispherical absorptivity:

However, conditions associated with its derivation are highly restrictive:
Irradiation of the surface corresponds to emission from a blackbody at the
same temperature as the surface.
However, Kirchhoffs law may be applied to the spectral, directional properties
without restriction:

, ,
Why are there no restrictions on use of the foregoing equation?

Diffuse/Gray Surfaces

With

and

Diffuse/Gray Surfaces
02 0 / 2 , cos sin d d
2 / 2
0 0 cos sin d d
02 0 / 2 , I ,i cos sin d d
2 / 2
0 0 I ,i cos sin d d

Under what conditions may we equate to ?

With
and

E d
0 ,b
Eb T

G d
0
G
Under what conditions may we equate to ?
Conditions associated with
assuming a gray surface:

Problem: Surface Emissivity and Absorptivity

Problem 12.49: Determination of the solar absorptivity and total emissivity

of a diffuse surface from knowledge of the spectral
distribution of and the surface temperature.

Problem: Surface Emissivity and Absorptivity (cont)

Problem: Surface Emissivity and Absorptivity (cont)

Problem: Energy Balance for an Irradiated Surface

Problem 12.90: Determination of the emissivity and absorptivity of a coated

vertical plate exposed to solar-simulation lamps and the magnitude
of the irradiation required to maintain a prescribed plate
temperature.

Problem: Energy Balance for an Irradiated Surface (cont)

SCHEMATIC:

Problem: Energy Balance for an Irradiated Surface (cont)

Problem: Energy Balance for an Irradiated Surface (cont)

Problem: Energy Balance for an Irradiated Surface (cont)