Reducing CPU Time for Radiative Exchange and Transient Heat Transfer Analysis Using Zone Method

Abstract : CPU time for radiative heat transfer analysis using the zone method is greatly reduced. Reduction in CPU time is attributed to the development of a simplified version of the plating algorithm for calculation of total exchange areas (TEAs) and of a model reduction algorithm for eliminating low-energy-level exchange areas from the matrix of radiative transfer. The accuracy and efficiency of the algorithms are examined for a windscreen bending furnace and a gas quenching chamber. Total CPU time is reduced by a factor of 17 for both applications.