The Optically Thin Boundary Approximation to Conductive and Radiactive Heat Transfer

Since an exact analytical solution to the equation of heat transfer for com bined conduction and radiation in a purely absorbing, gray medium bounded by infinite, parallel, black, isothermal plates does not exist, several approxima tions to this problem are examined. Comparisons of the total heat fluxes and temperature profiles predicted by the approximations are made with results from a numerical solution of the equation of transfer. Domains within which the approximations are in good agreement with the numerical technique are established. The "optically thin boundary" approximation is shown to be the most accurate of the approximations studied.