Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering: Radiative Energy Transfer

Catalog description

This course investigates the role of thermal radiation in the exchange of energy between engineered surfaces, and the problem of managing overall heat transfer. Topics include the fundamentals of thermal radiation, covering Plank's spectral distribution, Stefan-Boltzmann law, Wien's displacement law, Kirchhoff's law, spectral and total properties of radiative surfaces, including black, diffuse, gray, specular, and nongray surfaces. Analytical methods for analysis of radiative exchange between surfaces are developed using both Radiosity formulations and Network Analogies. Finally, radiative exchange between surfaces is coupled to multimode heat transfer problems, including those having contributions from conduction and convection.