A Stochastic Approach for Radiative Exchange in Enclosures With Nonparticipating Medium

A stochastic method is developed for calculating radiation interchange in enclosures with a finite number of isothermal surfaces but without a participating medium. Different types of surface properties are considered. They are diffuse and specular surfaces. In this work, a stochastic n model is proposed that is based on the Markov chain theory and leads to some explicit matrix relationships for the absorption factor from which the heat transfer characteristics of the enclosure can be determined. The present approach provides an exact solution as long as the necessary view factors can be determined. The accuracy of approximate solutions can be improved as n increases.