Estimation of Configuration Factor for Radiation From a Rectangle to a Parallel Small Element of Surface Lying on the Perpendicular to a Corner of the Radiator

Abstract

To calculate the radiant intensity at a point distant from a radiator, a geometrical or configuration factor must be used. If the temperature is known, then the emissive power can be calculated using the mean equivalent beam length, but before the radiant heat flux at a distance can be estimated, a configuration factor must be calculated. In this article a simple predictive tool is developed to estimate the configuration factor for a geometry including a receiving element lying on the perpendicular to one corner of a radiant rectangle. The results are found to be in excellent agreement with reported data in the literature with average absolute deviation being around 2%. The results can be used in follow up calculations to estimate heat fluxes on surfaces exposed to radiation. The tool developed in this study can be of immense practical value for engineers as a quick check on the configuration factor for a geometry including a receiving element lying on the perpendicular to one corner of a radiant rectangle without opting for any experimental trials. In particular, engineers would find the approach to be user-friendly with transparent calculations involving no complex expressions.