The paper deals with a solution of radiation heat transfer problems in enclosures filled with nonparticipating medium using ray tracing on hierarchical ortho-Cartesian meshes. The idea behind the approach is that radiative heat transfer problems can be solved on much coarser grids than their counterparts from computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The resulting code is designed as an add-on to OpenFOAM, an open-source CFD program. Ortho-Cartesian mesh involving boundary elements is created based upon CFD mesh. Parametric non-uniform rational basis spline (NURBS) surfaces are used to define boundaries of the enclosure, allowing for dealing with domains of complex shapes. Algorithm for determining random, uniformly distributed locations of rays leaving NURBS surfaces is described. The paper presents results of test cases assuming gray diffusive walls. In the current version of the model the radiation is not absorbed within gases. However, the ultimate aim of the work is to upgrade the functionality of the model, to problems in absorbing, emitting and scattering medium projecting iteratively the results of radiative analysis on CFD mesh and CFD solution on radiative mesh.

The inverse solution to the heat flux identification during the vertical plate cooling in air has been presented. The developed solution allowed to separate the energy absorbed by the chamber due to radiation from the convection heat losses to air. The uncertainty tests were carried out and the accuracy of the solution has been estimated at a level of 1%-5% depending on the boundary condition model. The inverse solution was obtained for the temperature measurements in the vertical plate. The stainless-steel plate was heated to 950°C and then cooled in the chamber in air only to about 30°C. The identified heat transfer coefficient was compared with the Churchill and Chu model. The solution has allowed to separate the radiation heat losses and to determine the Nusselt number values that stay in good agreement with the Churchill and Chu model for a nearly steady-state air flow for the plate temperature below 100°C.