Problem 5.5.1

 

Calculate the heat transfer between two large walls through radiation.  It is assumed that colder wall is maintained at 800 degrees Fahrenheit, while hot wall is at 1000 degrees Fahrenheit.  (a). Assume that the walls are perfect black bodies. (b). Assume that the walls have emissivities of 0.6 and 0.8.

 

Solution: 

 

For perfect black bodies, this equation reduces to sigma times A1 times (T14 minus T24).  Please note that sigma is Stefan-Boltzmann constant, and is equal to 0.173 times 10-8 BTU per hour per square foot per degree Rankine4.  It is important that we use absolute values of the temperature in calculations.

If the two planes are not black bodies and have different emissivities, the net exchange of energy is corrected by a factor, Fe that is given by reciprocal of (1 over e1 plus 1 over e2 minus 1). 

 

Assume A1 is 1 square foot. 

 

Case (a):  Plugging in the values of T1 and T2 as 1460 and 1260 degrees Rankin, Q is found to be 3,466 BTUs per hour.

Case (b):  For emissivity values of 0.6 and 0.8, Fe is calculated as 0.552.  Thus Q is 0.552 times 3,466 equals to 1808 BTUs per hour.