Radiative heat transfer in low-emissivity ovens

Low-emissivity ovens have linings of epsilon(e) < 0.1 that enhance the thermal radiation exchange between sheathed electrical heating elements (that are exposed within the cavity) and the thermal load(s). These ovens are a quick and energy-efficient alternative to conventional ovens; however, due to the high levels of thermal radiation, they must be carefully designed and controlled so that uneven radiation distributions over loads are minimised. In this paper, a Monte Carlo ray-tracing model was employed to undertake a parametric analysis of low-emissivity ovens. The factors that influence the magnitudes and uniformities of radiation distributions occurring over loads are identified, and recommendations for optimal heating configurations and control algorithms are presented. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.