Search

Radiative heat transfer is investigated for each of isotropic and backward scattering patterns to evaluate the radiative thermal conduction of vacuum insulation panels (VIPs). As a means of analysis, a new statistical formulation is proposed and the results are compared with those of diffusion approximation, Monte Carlo method and discrete ordinate interpolation method (DOIM). The results of the statistical formulation agree well with those of Monte Carlo method and DOIM within 1% error, so that it may be regarded as an exact solution method. The results show that the insulation performance of the VIP can be enhanced by increasing the optical thickness or decreasing the wall emissivity. Also, the backward scattering is about twice effective than the isotropic scattering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Radiative transfer in a pure scattering medium is analyzed with a Monte Carlo method. [•] The results for isotropic scattering case agree well with the diffusion solution. [•] The effects of radiation shields and opacifiers in VIPs have been verified. [•] The radiative thermal conductivity is reduced for the backward scattering medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]