Automatic solution of heat radiation problems in two dimensional diffuse gray enclosures

Abstract

A Computer program is presented for the numerical treatment of two-dimensional heat transfer problems where heat radiation is present. The heat radiation problem is solved in diffuse-gray enclosures of any shape, simply or multiply connected, bounded by hot surfaces. Each enclosure is approximated by a set of short, straight, isotherraal line segmente. A matrix of view-factors is automatically determined and the net: radiant heat flux entering each segraent is calculated. There heat fluxes are then used as boundary fluxes for the bodies involved in the system. The bodies are in turn approximated by finite elements and the entire coupled problem is solved in time steps.