Last Updated: 5/18/2012

Excel/VBA Spreadsheet for View Factors

Radiation View Factors - Perpendicular Plates

The first of the four worksheets finds the view factor for perpendicular plates with a common edge (from the well-known analytical solution) and draws an isometric view of them on the screen. The user inputs the length of the common edge as well as the second dimension of the two plates. This worksheet and the one for parallel plates were developed in part to help in verifying the view factor values computed by our much more versatile Visual Basic view factor module.

Radiation View Factors - Coaxial Disks

The viewfactor for coaxial, parallel disks is computed from the analytical solution and then they are drawn to scale on the screen. The user inputs the radii of the two disks (emitter and receiver) and the separation distance.

Radiation View Factors - Coaxial Cylinders

View factors for finite-length, coaxial cylinders are computed using a combination of analytical solutions and view factor algebra. The user inputs the radii of the two cylinders and their length. All nine relevant view factors and a scale drawing are returned.

Radiation View Factors - Parallel Rectangles

On the fourth worksheet the view factor for parallel, aligned plates is computed from the analytical solution. The user inputs the length and width of the two rectangles and their separation distance. The view factor and a scale drawing are returned.

NOTE: Because of differences in the graphics calls between Office 2007 and earlier versions, there are currently two separate versions of the view factor spreadsheet:

Download View Factor Spreadsheet (Office 1997-2003)

Download View Factor Spreadsheet (Office 2007)

References:

Howell, J.R., A Catalog of Radiation Heat Transfer Configuration Factors

Modest, M.F., Radiative Heat Transfer, 2nd Ed., McGraw-Hill, 2003.

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