Thermal Radiation View Factor Calculation Using Monte Carlo Method. Comparison of Accuracy and Computer Time with Area Integration Method

Abstract

It is necessary to obtain the radiation geometric view factor for calculation of radiation heat transfer problems. There are many studies for calculation methods of the view factors such as area integration method, line integration method, Mitalas-Stephenson's contour integration method, Hottel's cross-string method and Monte Carlo method. The view factors can be calculated by area integration method and Monte Carlo method, even if third surface shading exists. The paper is comparative study of the calculation accuracy and computer time between area integration method and Monte Carlo method for view factors. It has been considered that Monte Carlo method is time consuming. However it is clarified from the calculation results of Monte Carlo method that a small amount of emission leads to reasonable view factors and small amount of emission leads to reasonable view factors and small amount of computer time. © 1988, Atomic Energy Society of Japan. All rights reserved.