Abstract
This study aims to develop the high-accuracy analysis method of radiative heat transfer that can be used for the coupled simulation of convection and radiation. The method is demonstrated by applying it to the thermal environment around a human body with a realistic shape and size. In this paper, the method to calculate radiative exchange coefficients (configuration factors or direct interchange areas) using the Monte Carlo method was reported for the case with highly complicated geometries. Accurate radiative exchange coefficients are obtained by conducting the symmetrization procedure that forces the radiative exchange coefficients to comply both with summation and reciprocity laws. The method to compress the capacity storing the direct interchange areas was proposed by grouping some solid surface elements into one segment This is crucial when radiative heat transfer calculation should be carried out for the case with very large number of solid surface elements. A naked human body model was created in a standing posture with a realistic shape and size. The method to transfer the radiative exchange factors defined in a black enclosure to those in a gray enclosure was also briefly introduced Evaluation of geometric characteristics of the human body model and the thermal environment around the human body by a coupled analysis of convection and radiation will be reported in Part 2. Evaluation of accuracy of the method will be reported by comparing the experimental results using a thermal manikin in Part 3.
