Narrow-band and full-spectrum k-distributions for radiative heat transfer -: correlated-k vs. scaling approximation

The correlated-k and scaled-k distribution methods for radiative heat transfer in molecular gases are developed based on precise mathematical principles, for both narrow band and full spectrum models. Their differences and commonalities are high-lighted and discussed. Applications to narrow spectral bands of nonhomogeneous gases show both methods to be about equally accurate. For full-spectrum calculations, on the other hand, the scaled-k distribution consistently outperforms the correlated-k model. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.