Radiant Transfer Through Specular Tubes*

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Abstract
This analysis provides a simple and accurate method for predicting the performance of specular tubes in radiant transfer systems. The primary departure from previous efforts lies in the method of analysis. The “image” concept of specular transfer, previously employed in analyses of plane specular surfaces, is applied to enclosures with self-viewing specular surfaces, such as tubular transmitters. This technique is used with a finite-difference formulation to provide straightforward matrix solutions for all boundary conditions of interest. Numerical results are presented for the specific geometries of the circular cylinder and the semi-infinite, parallel-sided slot. These results include transmittances and axial distributioncharacteristics. The parametric presentations are useful for estimation of the performance of complex specular systems. Results are shown to agree with previously published data obtained with different analytical methods.