Modelling of radiative heat transfer in enclosures with obstacles

Radiation models suitable for incorporation in reactive fluid flow codes are extended to calculate radiation in enclosures containing obstacles of very small thickness. The discrete transfer, the discrete ordinates and the finite volume method are employed to predict the heat transfer in two-dimensional enclosures and the results are compared with zone method calculations, with the total exchange areas determined by the Monte-Carlo method. All the methods predict similar heat fluxes, but the computational requirements are different. The discrete ordinates and the finite volume method are the most economical ones. An application to a utility boiler is also presented. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.