22nd International Congress of Mechanical Engineering (COBEM 2013)

November 3-7, 2013, Ribeiro Preto, SP, Brazil

Copyright 2013 by ABCM

RADIATIVE HEAT TRANSFER EVALUATION IN COMPLEX
ENCLOSURE USING ZONAL METHOD

Gleyzer Martins
Federal University of Uberlndia Ituiutaba/MG-Brasil
[email protected]

Enio Pedone Bandarra Filho
Federal University of Uberlndia Uberlndia/MG-Brasil
[email protected]

Oscar Saul Hernandez Mendoza
Federal University of Uberlndia Uberlndia/MG-Brasil
[email protected]

Abstract. The zonal method is distinguished by the easy conceptual implementation and by the accuracy of results,
when applied to radiative heat transfer problems in practical engineering problems. In this work, we proposed the
development of zonal method applied to a two-dimensional symmetric cavity with plane surfaces and complex surfaces
using cubic spline to modeling these surfaces. The radiative properties of participating medium were determined by the
weighted sum of gray gases method. According to the literature, the proposed method yields satisfactory results for
radiative heat transfer both plane and in complex geometries problems.

Keywords: Complex Geometries, Gray Gases, Zonal Method

1. INTRODUCTION

Steam generations are equipment to steam generating at pressures above atmospheric. The fire tube boiler is a steam
generation classes that usually apply a corrugated surface technology in the furnace aiming to improve mechanic
strength and heat transfer. The sketch of corrugated surface is shown in Fig (1)
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
x
y

Figure 1- The drafting of two-dimensional corrugated surface

Coelho (1997) developed the radiative transfer in two-dimensional enclosure with obstacles for different geometric
configuration, using rectangular cavity and three-dimensional enclosure containing five baffles for simulating a boiler
furnace with superheaters using zonal method, discrete transfer method, discrete ordinates method and finite volume
method. All the methods predicted similar evolution of radiative heat transfer, but discrete ordinates method and finite
volume methods were the fastest in convergence time.
Nunes et al. (2000) developed thermal radiative transport in irregularly-shaped axisymmetric bodies containing a
homogenous, anisotropically scattering medium using N-bounce method that approximates total exchanges factors by
summing direct and user designated higher order terms representation of multiple reflections/scattering. Five different
problems were studied for non-circular enclosures with the results were found to be in excellent agreement with those in
literature.
ISSN 2176-5480
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G. Martins, E.P. Badarra and O.S.H. Mendonza
RADIATIVE HEAT TRANSFER EVALUATION IN COMPLEX ENCLOSURE USING ZONAL METHOD

Talukdar (2006) developed discrete transfer method for irregular geometries applied a variety of two-dimensional
problems with rectangular geometries and cylindrical enclosures with satisfactory results when compared with literature
benchmark.
The zonal method was initially established by Hottel and collaborators, according with was presented in Hottel and
Sarofim (1976). This method is based on the division of volume gas and of heat exchange surface in isothermal
elements in order to account radiation heat transfer considering the interchanges between all surface to surface, surface
to volume and volume to volume, as can be seen in the Fig. 2.

i

j
dA
i
dA

i

i
dA
j
dV

j
dV
i
dV

(a) (b) (c)
Figure-2 Direct exchange area between surfaces -surfaces (a) between surfaces -volumes (b) and between volumes -
volumes (c)

The direct exchange areas, Fig 1, are determined by:


( ) ( )
( )
2
cos cos
j i
K r
i j
i j i j
A A
e
s s dAdA
r

( )
( )
2
cos
j i
K r
j
i j i j
A V
K e
g s dVdA
r

(1)
( )
2
j i
K r
i j i j
V V
K K e
g g dVdV
r


=

Where
i j
s s
i j
g s and
i j
g g are the direct exchange area for surface-surface, surface-volume and volume-volume
respectively; K is the gray gas extinction coefficient; r distance between two zonal elements and

is the polar angle.
The zonal elements for volume and area are represented respectively by
i
V

and
i
A . To account for the effects of
multiple reflections and the emission of gases between the surfaces is used the total exchange area through the matrix
representation, as realized to Rhine and Tucker (1991) and Noble (1975)
The spectral bands effect of gas for radiation absorption, especially CO
2
and H
2
O, is considered using a weighted
sum of gray gases method. The method parameters are used as proposed by Smith et al (1982) using three gray gases
and four polynomials coefficients for temperature fit. Based in this coefficients is calculating the weighted of gray
gases, which are associated to direct exchange area to determine the direct flux area.
The heat exchange between the surfaces and volumes are given:

,
1 1
m l
i j i i i i j i i j g i
j j
Q A E S S E S G E

= =
=

uuuur uuuur
&

, ,
1 1
4
l m
i j i j g i i j i t i g i
j j
Q GG E G S E K V E

= =
=

uuuuur uuuur
&
(2)

Where
i
is the surface emissivity;
i
E and
, g i
E are emissive black body power for surface and gases volumes
elements respectively;
i j
S S
uuuur
,
i j
S G
uuuur
and
i j
GG
uuuuur
are the direct flux area between surface-surface, surface-volumes and
volume-volume respectively and
t
K is gray gas extinction coefficient.

ISSN 2176-5480
10281
22nd International Congress of Mechanical Engineering (COBEM 2013)
November 3-7, 2013, Ribeiro Preto, SP, Brazil
2. METHODOLOGY

The integral solution of the direct exchange areas, Eq. (1), represents the largest computational effort of the method.
The literature usually applies the Gaussian quadrature method, in this manuscript was applied the integration method by
discrete sum developed by Olsommer (1997) , given by:

( ) ( )
1 1
2
cos cos
j
i j ij i
ctr
ctr ctr K r ctr
i j i j
i j i j
ddj ddi
ij
K K e
d d dd dd
r

(3)

Where d
i
e d
j
are unified direct exchange area, s
i
s
j
, g
i
s
j
e g
i
g
j
; the terms dd
i
e dd
j
are the zonal exchange elements, A
i

or V
i
;. The control variable, ctr, determine if exchange factors is between areas, crt=1, or volumes, crt=0.
The direct exchange areas are three-dimensional quantities that account the two-dimensional energy balance applied
the smoothing method for direct exchange area, as established by Lawson (1995), based on isothermal balance of the
Eq.(2), as follow:

' i
i j i j
i k i k
k k
A
s s s s
s s s g
=
+


' i
i j i j
i k i k
k k
A
s g s g
s s s g
=
+

(4)
'
4
t i
i j i j
i k i k
k k
K V
g g g g
g s g g
=
+



These equations are used in iterative process until that maximum discrepancy between the current and previous
modified direct exchange factor is less than 10
-10
.
The corrugated surface was modeled using a natural cubic spline as established by Gerald and Wheatley (1994), as
follow:

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
3 2
i i i i i i i i
g x a x x b x x c x x d = + + + (5)

Where
i
a ,
i
b ,
i
c and
i
d are i-th polynomial coefficients for the spline ( )
i
g x . Firstly was determined the amplitude
and the step points for corrugated surface. Based on these points was fitting the cubic spline, by setting the eq (5)
coefficients. The zonal method with weighted sums of gray gases was implemented for a cavity with black isothermal
walls with length of 1.0m and height 0.5m
Using the two zonal element centers can be calculated a straight line and by the analytical intersection between this
line and cubic spline for surface can be found shaded areas. The straight lines are showed in fig (3).
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
x
y

(a)
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
x
y

(b)
Figure 3 Direct Exchange area for zonal elements for surface -surface (a) and surface-volume (b)

The plane surface enclosures are determined according to Goutiere et al. (2000), in which the gas concentrations of
participating gases are assumed to be uniform and equal to 10%CO
2
and 20% H
2
O; and the gases temperature profile
are determined divided the isothermal enclosure in two regions, as showed by Eq. (6)
ISSN 2176-5480
10282
G. Martins, E.P. Badarra and O.S.H. Mendonza
RADIATIVE HEAT TRANSFER EVALUATION IN COMPLEX ENCLOSURE USING ZONAL METHOD

( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
2 3
2 3
0.1 , 14000 400 1 3 2 800[ ]
10000
0.1 , 1 1 3 2 800[ ]
9
o o
o o
x T x y x y y K
x T x y x y y K

= + +

> = + +

(6)

Where
0.25
0.25
o
y
y

= (7)

To implement the method was developed a FORTRAN code subdivided in subroutines as show in the fig (4)

Zonal Method Zonal Method
Main Program Main Program
Dimension: 1,0 x 0,5 Dimension: 1,0 x 0,5
Mesh: 40 x20 Mesh: 40 x20
Direct Exchange Area Direct Exchange Area
Sub Sub- -routine routine
( ) ( )
1 1
2
cos cos
j i j ij i
ctr ctr ctr K r ctr
i j i j
i j i j
ddj ddi ij
K K e
d d dd dd
r

Total Exchange Area Total Exchange Area

Sub Sub- -routine routine
= SS AI R ss I = SG AI R sg = + GG gs I R sg gg
Direct Flux Area Direct Flux Area
Sub Sub- -routine routine
( )( ) ,
1
g
n
N
i j s n i i j
K K
n
S S a T S S
=
=
=
uuuur
( ) ( ) ,
1
g
n
N
i j s n i i j
K K
n
S G a T S G
=
=
=
uuuur
( ) ( ) ,
1
g
n
N
i j g n i i j
K K
n
GG a T GG
=
=
=
uuuuur
Lawson Lawson s Smoothing Method s Smoothing Method
Sub Sub- -routine routine
' i
i j i j
i k i k
k k
A
s s s s
s s s g
=
+
' i
i j i j
i k i k
k k
A
s g s g
s s s g
=
+
' 4 t i
i j i j
i k i k
k k
K V
g g g g
g s g g
=
+
Heat Transfer Heat Transfer
Sub Sub- -routine routine
,
1 1
m l
i j i i i i j i i j g i
j j
Q A E S S E S G E
= =
=
uuuur uuuur
&
, ,
1 1
4
l m
i j i j g i i j i t i g i
j j
Q GG E G S E K V E
= =
=
uuuuur uuuur
&
Constants Constants
Sub Sub- -routine routine
( (k k
n n
;a ;a
ii
;b ;b
jj
; ; ) )
Temperature Profile Temperature Profile
Sub Sub- -routine routine
( (Tg;Ts Tg;Ts) )
Spline Spline
Sub Sub- -routine routine
( (x x
bb
;y ;y
bb
;a ;a
n n
) )


Figure 4 - Implemented Code flowchart

3. RESULTS

Firstly to validate the implemented code, was used plane surface modeled by spline considering amplitude of 0,0m
and step of 0.1667m with temperature profile established by Goutiere et al. 2000, using the method of weighted sum of
gray gases. The results are compared with Martins et al. 2012, that implemented a zonal method specific code
associated with weight sum of gray gases for the theoretical furnace established by Goutiere et al. (2000), as showed in
fig (5).

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
x [m]
H
e
a
t

F
l
u
x

[
k
W
/
m
2
]


Present Work
Martins et al (2012)

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
x [m]
R
e
l
a
t
i
v
e

E
r
r
o
r

[
%
]

ISSN 2176-5480
10283
22nd International Congress of Mechanical Engineering (COBEM 2013)
November 3-7, 2013, Ribeiro Preto, SP, Brazil
(a)
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
y [m]
H
e
a
t

F
l
u
x

[
k
W
/
m
2
]


Present Work
Martins et al (2012)

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
x [m]
R
e
l
a
t
i
v
e

E
r
r
o
r

[
%
]

(c)

Figure 5. Radiative heat flux and relative error for the bottom (a) and the right (b) walls for plane surface

Figure 5 represents satisfactory description of radiative heat transfer in the surfaces by the implemented code, with
small errors at the bottom wall and at the right wall. The relative error showed some tendency errors that may be
associated to Lawsons smoothing method. As showed by Martins, et al. 2012 the results presented by the zonal method
with weighted sum of gray gas, using integration by discrete sum and Smith, et al. 1982, parameters, shown accurate
results close to the statistic narrow band method developed Goutiere et al. 2000.
To assessment the physical analysis for corrugated surface, firstly it was plotted the temperature profile for
enclosure, as showed in fig (6).

x [m]
y

[
m
]


0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
Temperature
[K]

Figure 6. Temperature profile in theoretical furnace

The temperature profile, in figure 6, show a typical temperature distribution of combustion furnace, in which high
temperature was found near the left wall. Figure 6 also shows that temperature profile is not affected by the corrugated
surface because the mathematic correlation did not accounted the flow dynamics in combustion furnace.
The results for radiative heat transfer for corrugated surface with amplitude of 25mm e step of 125mm using the
temperature profile determined give by fig (6), are showed in fig (7).
ISSN 2176-5480
10284
G. Martins, E.P. Badarra and O.S.H. Mendonza
RADIATIVE HEAT TRANSFER EVALUATION IN COMPLEX ENCLOSURE USING ZONAL METHOD

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
5
10
15
20
25
30
x [m]
(a)
H
e
a
t

F
l
u
x

[
k
W
/
m
2
]


Corrugated Surface
Plane Surface
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
y [m]
(b)
H
e
a
t

F
l
u
x

[
k
W
/
m
2
]


Figure 7. Radiative heat flux for the bottom corrugated surface (a) and the right wall (b)

The figure 7 shows the radiation heat transfer peak in the maximum amplitude surface, as showed at the ordinate of
0.24m, the maximum radiative heat flux in fig(7) represent the peak of amplitude most close to the highest temperature
in fig (6). In the same way, the figure 7 show that low radiation heat transfer corresponded to the shaded surface from
greatest temperature profile. The amount of heat transfer improved 5% at bottom corrugated surface and show
differences at the right wall mainly near edges, showing the effect of shaded areas.

4. CONCLUSION

The zonal method implementation with weighted sum of gray gas showed as a method with low computational cost
and with easy development for complex surface applied spline to modeling corrugated surface. A validation with plane
surface presented satisfactory errors when compared with results developed by Martins (2012). The results for
corrugated surface, although no literature results, represent the physic coherence with improvement of amount of
radiative heat transfer.
Further improved in methodology may also be realized by using a combustion modeling that account the effect flow
dynamics. In this case, temperature profile is determined by use of iterative heat transfer between the energy equation
for flow dynamics and the radiative heat transfer.


5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Financial support of Faculty of Integrated Sciences of Pontal and Graduate Program in Mechanical Engineering at
the Federal University of Uberlndia and also to CAPES and FAPEMIG.

6. REFERENCES

Coelho, P.J.,Gonalves, J.M., Carvalho, M.G., 1998. Modelling of Radiative Heat Transfer in Enclosures with
Obstacles. Int. J. Heat Transfer: Elsevier Science Ltda. Vol 41,Nos 4-5. Pp 745-756.
Gerald, C.F., Wheatley, P.O., 1994. Applied Numerical Analysis 5
a
Ed. Addison Wesley Publishing Company.
Goutiere,V., Liu, F., Charette, A., 2000. An assessment of realgas modeling in 2D enclosures. Journal of
Quantitative Spectroscopy & Radiative Transfer : Pergamon. Quebec.
ISSN 2176-5480
10285
22nd International Congress of Mechanical Engineering (COBEM 2013)
November 3-7, 2013, Ribeiro Preto, SP, Brazil
Hottel, H., Sarofim, A., 1976. Radiative Transfer. New York: McGraw-Hill
Lawson, D.A., 1995. An Improved Method for Smoothing Approximate Exchange Areas. International Journal of
Heat and Mass Transfer: Pergamon Press. Vol 38. pp. 3109-3110.
Martins, G., Hernandez. O.S.M., Bandarra, E.P.F., 2012. Zonal Method Implementation to Determine the Thermal
Radiation Heat Transfer in Bidimenesional Furnaces. 14th Brazilian Congress of Thermal Sciences and
Engineering Encit 2012. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Modest,M.F., 2003. Radiative Heat Transfer. Academic Press.
Noble, J.J., 1975. The Zonal Method: Explicit Matrix Relations for Total Exchange Area International Journal of
Heat and Mass Transfer: Pergamon Press. Vol 18. pp. 261-269.
Nunes, E.M., Modi, V., Naraghi, M.H.N., 2000. Radiative transfer in arbitrarily-shaped axisymmetric enclosures with
anisotropic scattering media. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer: Pergamon. Vol 43. pp. 3275-3285
Olsommer, B., Spakovsky, M. V., Favrat, D.,1997, Transfert de chaleur par rayonnement dans un four dincinration
industriel: application de la mthode des zones, Int. J. Thermal Sciences, 36, 125-134
Rhine, J.M., Tucker, R.J., 1991. Modelling of Gas-Fired Furnaces and Boilers. Britsh Gas, McGraw-Hill, London.
Smith, T.F., Shen, Z.F., Friedman, J.N., 1982, Evaluation of Coefficients for The Weighted Sum of Gray Gases
Model, J Heat Transfer, 104:602-8.
Talukdar, P., 2006. Discrete transfer method with the concept of blocked-off region for irregular geometries Journal
of Quantitative Spectroscopy & Radiative Transfer : Elsevier. Pp. 238-348.

7. RESPONSIBILITY NOTICE

The author(s) is (are) the only responsible for the printed material included in this paper.
ISSN 2176-5480
10286