The calculation of radiative heat flux in a cylindrical furnace using the Monte Carlo Method

Abstract The temperature profiles and heat flux distributions in an end-fired right cylindrical furnace with circumferential sink surfaces were calculated by the Monte Carlo Method, for various flow patterns. The combustion pattern was determined from precise experimental data taken on cold ducted jets and its calculation included the effect of turbulent fluctuations of the fuel and oxygen concentrations as well as the mean values. The results compared favorably with previous calculations for identical conditions using the classical interchange method for the radiative terms. The Monte Carlo Method proved to be more flexible than the classical method in handling concentration variations in the radiating gases and changes in volume element geometry to conform more closely with jet structure. Various suggestions are proposed to circumvent the use of random numbers which lead to statistical errors, the major disadvantage of the Monte Carlo Method.