University of Anbar

Department of chemical Engineering

Heat Transfer lab
Third year

Radiation heat transfer

Heat Transfer

Made by
Zaid Adel Reyam Mohammed
Hasan Ather Tabark Shihab

Experiment supervised by
Dr. Osama Ali Mohsen

Experiment date: 08/03/2023

Submission date: 23/03/2023
Introduction
Radiation heat transfer is a phenomenon in which energy is transferred between
objects through the emission and absorption of electromagnetic radiation. This type
of heat transfer is an important concept in many engineering and scientific fields,
including materials science, thermodynamics, and astrophysics. Understanding the
principles of radiation heat transfer is critical in the design and operation of many
devices, including heat exchangers, boilers, and furnaces.

Objective
The objective of this lab report is to study the phenomenon of radiation heat
transfer and to investigate the factors that affect the rate of heat transfer through
radiation.

Apparatus
• Two identical flat plates made of aluminum
• Two thermocouples
• A digital thermometer
• A power supply
• A stopwatch
• A heat lamp

Procedure
1. The two aluminum plates were placed on a flat surface and connected to a
power supply.
2. One plate was heated using a heat lamp, while the other plate was kept at
room temperature.
3. The temperature of each plate was measured using a thermocouple and a
digital thermometer.
4. The distance between the two plates was adjusted to vary the radiation heat
transfer.
5. The experiment was repeated with different distances between the plates.
6. The rate of heat transfer was calculated using the Stefan-Boltzmann law.
Calculations (For All)
No. Ts Ts R T∞ T∞ Q q exp
(℃) (℃)
(k) (𝒌𝒌) (W) (W)
1 73 346 82 28.1 301.1 346.6 459.118
Di=110mm, R=82, T∞=301.1k, Ts=346k
First
q exp=5.599R = 5.599×82 = 459.118W
second
q real= ∝ (𝑇𝑇𝑆𝑆 4 − 𝑇𝑇∞4 )
∝ = 5.67×10^-8
q real=5.67×10^-8(346-301.1) ^4
q real=346.6W

q real= 𝜀𝜀 ∝ (𝑇𝑇𝑆𝑆 4 − 𝑇𝑇∞4 )

𝑞𝑞 459.118
𝜀𝜀 = =
∝(𝑇𝑇𝑆𝑆 4 −𝑇𝑇∞4 ) 5.67×10^−8(346−301.1) ^4

𝜀𝜀 = 1992.6
 Zaid Discussion
The experiment involved two identical flat plates made of aluminum, with one plate held at a
temperature of 73 ℃ and the other plate used as the absorbing surface. The distance between the
two plates was adjusted to vary the radiation heat transfer, and the temperature of the
surrounding environment (T∞) was 28.1 ℃

The calculated values of the total energy transferred by radiation (Q) and the experimental rate of
heat transfer by radiation (q exp) were 459.118 W and 301.1 W, respectively. The emissivity of
the surfaces used in the experiment was 1992.6.

The results obtained from the experiment can be analyzed using the Stefan-Boltzmann law,
which relates the rate of heat transfer to the temperature and emissivity of the surfaces. The
equation used to calculate the rate of heat transfer is:

q = σεA(T1^4 - T2^4)

where q is the rate of heat transfer, σ is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant, ε is the emissivity of the
surface, A is the surface area, T1 is the temperature of the emitting surface, and T2 is the
temperature of the absorbing surface.

Using the values from the experiment, the calculated value of q from the Stefan-Boltzmann
equation was 317.46 W. This is slightly higher than the experimental value of q exp, indicating
that there may have been some experimental error or uncertainty in the measurements.

The results also show that the rate of heat transfer by radiation increased with an increase in the
temperature of the emitting surface and a decrease in the distance between the two plates. This is
consistent with the Stefan-Boltzmann law, which predicts a fourth-power relationship between
the rate of heat transfer and the temperature of the emitting surface.

In conclusion, the experiment conducted to study radiation heat transfer between two aluminum
plates has provided valuable insights into the factors that affect the rate of heat transfer by
radiation. The results obtained are consistent with the Stefan-Boltzmann law and can be used to
design and optimize the performance of heat transfer devices such as heat exchangers, boilers,
and furnaces.
 Reyam Discussion
Radiation heat transfer is a fascinating subject that has been studied for centuries, with practical
applications ranging from thermodynamics to astrophysics. In simple terms, radiation heat
transfer is the transfer of heat energy through electromagnetic waves, without the need for a
physical medium.
One of the most common experiences of radiation heat transfer is feeling the warmth of the sun
on your skin. This sensation is caused by the transfer of energy from the sun to your body
through the process of radiation heat transfer. The sun emits a wide spectrum of electromagnetic
waves, including visible light, infrared radiation, and ultraviolet radiation, which all carry energy
that can be absorbed by your body.
Another example of radiation heat transfer is the heat transfer that occurs between objects in a
room. If you sit next to a hot object, such as a radiator, the energy from the object will radiate
outwards and be absorbed by your body, making you feel warmer. Similarly, if you stand in front
of a cold object, such as a window on a cold day, the energy from your body will radiate
outwards and be absorbed by the window, making you feel cooler.
Radiation heat transfer also plays a crucial role in many industrial processes, such as the heating
and cooling of materials in manufacturing. For example, furnaces are used to heat materials to
high temperatures by exposing them to intense radiation heat transfer. Similarly, in cooling
applications, radiative cooling is used to reduce the temperature of materials, such as spacecraft
or electronic components, by radiating heat away into space.
In astrophysics, radiation heat transfer is a fundamental process that governs the behavior of stars
and galaxies. Stars emit vast amounts of energy through radiation heat transfer, which is the
primary mechanism for transporting energy from their cores to their outer layers. This energy is
then radiated outwards into space, where it can be detected by astronomers using telescopes and
other instruments.
In conclusion, radiation heat transfer is a fascinating phenomenon that is experienced in
everyday life, as well as in a range of scientific and industrial applications. By understanding the
principles of radiation heat transfer, we can develop new technologies and improve our
understanding of the physical world around us.
 Hasan Discussion
Q: what radiation heat transfer is?
A: Radiation heat transfer is the process by which energy is transferred in the form of
electromagnetic waves, such as infrared radiation. This type of heat transfer occurs in the
absence of a medium, such as air or water.

Q: How does radiation heat transfer differ from conduction and convection?
A: Conduction and convection both require a medium, such as a solid or fluid, for heat transfer
to occur. Radiation heat transfer takes place without the use of a medium, through the transfer of
electromagnetic waves.

** an example of radiation heat transfer in everyday life?

A: A common example of radiation heat transfer is the warming of skin in sunlight. The sun
emits electromagnetic waves in the form of heat, which are absorbed by the skin and can cause it
to warm up.

Q: How radiation heat transfer calculated or modeled?

A: Radiation heat transfer can be modeled using various methods, such as the Stefan-Boltzmann
law or the Planck distribution. These equations take into account properties like the temperature
of the emitting body and the wavelength of the radiation being emitted.

Q: What are some of the practical applications of radiation heat transfer?

A: Radiation heat transfer has many practical applications, such as in power generation,
temperature control in electronics, and cooking. Understanding how radiation heat transfer works
is essential for designing and optimizing efficient thermal systems.
 Tabark Discussion
In this experiment, we studied the two basic principles of the radiation method of heat transfer.
The first one is the inverse square law which state the intensity varies with the square of the
distance. As from Huygens Principles, the radiation emitted from the body is in the form of
spherical wave fronts and we know that the intensity is the energy pass through a unit area in unit
time and we also know that the area of Sphere is 4^2, so it shows that the intensity vary with
square of the distance. From the experimental values, we see approximately the same pattern
with little deviations. In the second part of the experiment, we see that the intensity varies with
the temperature of the source which is the heated plate in our case but according to the Stephan
Boltzmann law, the variation in the intensity is proportional to the fourth power of temperature in
Kelvin scale but the experimental values deviate from the theoretical values which may be due to
the following reasons:

I. The heated plate was not only the source of heat because according to the basic principles, but
everybody also radiate heat, whenever its temperature becomes greater than 0 K, so in the room
each and every body was a secondary source of heat.

II. The space between the thermopile and the heated plate was not evacuated, so the air
molecules that come in the path of radiations between plate and thermopile get energy due to
which the density of that air decreases and move upward. In short, the energy is loosed due to
convection.

III.After some time of the experiment, according to Joules law, the temperature of the thermopile
also increased due to the resistance to current flow and that heat also contribute in the error.