In Class exercise:

1.-The spectral emissive power (E) of a blackbody (such as the sun) is known as the Planck
distribution (1959):

2hc02
E ,b  5
 exp(hc0 / kT )  1  
Where h=6.625×10-34J˙s and k=1.3805×10-23J/K are the universal Planck and Boltzmann
constants respectively, c0 = 2.998 × 108 m/s is the speed of light in vacuum, T is the absolute
temperature of the blackbody (K) and is the wavelength within the spectrum of thermal
radiation (0.1 m – 100 m). Eb= W/ (m2.m)
Substituting the Plank distribution into the total hemispherical emissive power:


Eb   E ( )d
0

It can be shown it results into the well-known Stefan-Boltzmann Law:

Eb  T 4
Where ×W/m2.K4
Conduct the following:
a. Plot the spectral emissive power for the sun (T1=5800 K) and for other cooler bodies
(T2=4000 K, T3=2000 K, T4=1000 K, T5=800 K, T6=300 K, T7=100 K). What do you
observe?

2hc02
E  5
 exp(hc0 / kT )  1  
Solution:

C1
E 
5 exp(C2 / T )  1  

C1= 2hc20=3.742×108 W.m4/m2

C2= hc0/k=1.439x104 m.K

b. The shift of that peak is a direct consequence of the Planck radiation law which
describes the spectral brightness of black body radiation as a function of
wavelength at any given temperature (Wien´s displacement law). Provide a
couple examples on how Wien's displacement law is relevant to some everyday
experiences.
 (Plot obtained using Matlab code)
From (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_body)

 A piece of metal heated by a torch first becomes "red hot" as the very longest visible
wavelengths appear red, then becomes more orange-red as the temperature is
increased, and at very high temperatures would be described as "white hot" as
shorter and shorter wavelengths come to predominate the black body emission
spectrum. Before it had even reached the red hot temperature, the thermal emission
was mainly at longer infrared wavelengths which are not visible; nevertheless that
radiation could be felt as it warms one's nearby skin.

 One easily observes changes in the color of an incandescent light bulb (which
produces light through black body radiation) as the temperature of its filament is
varied by a light dimmer. As the light is dimmed and the filament temperature
decreases, the distribution of color shifts toward longer wavelengths and the light
appears redder, as well as dimmer.

 It is easy to calculate that a wood fire at 1500 K puts out peak radiation at about
2000 nm. 98% of its radiation is beyond 1000 nm and only a tiny proportion at visible
wavelengths. Consequently, a campfire can keep one warm but is a poor source of
visible light.

 The effective temperature of the Sun is 5778 K. Using Wien's law, one finds a peak
emission per nanometer (of wavelength) at a wavelength of about 500 nm in the
green portion of the spectrum near the peak sensitivity of the human eye. On the
other hand, in terms of power per unit optical frequency, the Sun's peak emission is
at 343 THz or a wavelength of 883 nm in the near infrared. In terms of power per
percentage bandwidth, the peak is at about 635 nm, a red wavelength. Regardless
 of how one wants to plot the spectrum, about half of the sun's radiation is at
wavelengths shorter than 710 nm, about the limit of the human vision. Of that, about
12% is at wavelengths shorter than 400 nm, ultraviolet wavelengths which cannot
be seen. It can be appreciated that a rather large amount of the Sun's radiation falls
in the fairly small visible spectrum.

 The color of a star is determined by its temperature, according to Wien's law. In the
constellation of Orion, one can compare Betelgeuse (T≈3300 K, upper left), Rigel
(T=12100 K, bottom right), Bellatrix (T=22000 K, upper right), and Mintaka (T=31800
K, rightmost of the 3 "belt stars" in the middle).

 The preponderance of emission in the visible range, however, is not the case in
most stars. The hot supergiant Rigel emits 60% of its light in the ultraviolet, while
the cool supergiant Betelgeuse emits 85% of its light at infrared wavelengths. With
both stars prominent in the constellation of Orion, one can easily appreciate the
color difference between the blue-white Rigel (T=12100 K) and the red Betelgeuse
(T≈3300 K). While few stars are as hot as Rigel, stars cooler than the sun or even
as cool as Betelgeuse are very commonplace.

 Mammals with a skin temperature of about 300 K emit peak radiation at around 10
μm in the far infrared. This is therefore the range of infrared wavelengths that pit
viper snakes and passive IR cameras must sense.

 When comparing the apparent color of lighting sources (including fluorescent lights,
LED lighting, computer monitors, and photoflash), it is customary to cite the color
temperature. Although the spectra of such lights are not accurately described by the
black body radiation curve, a color temperature is quoted for which black body
radiation would most closely match the subjective color of that source. For instance,
the blue-white fluorescent light sometimes used in an office may have a color
temperature of 6500 K, whereas the reddish tint of a dimmed incandescent light may
have a color temperature (and an actual filament temperature) of 2000 K. Note that
the informal description of the former (bluish) color as "cool" and the latter (reddish)
as "warm" is exactly opposite the actual temperature change involved in black body
radiation.

c. Demonstration of the Boltzmann Law:


Eb   E ( )d
0

2hc02
E ,b  5
 exp(hc0 / kT )  1
Rearranging the equation:
 
C1
Eb   d
0
5
exp(C 2 /  T )  1
This integral can be computed numerically using the "Cauchy Principal Value" principle:

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=integral+(c1%2F(x%5E5+(exp(c2%2F(x*t))-
1)))+dx+from+0+to+infinity

 4 c1
Eb  4
T4
15c 2

Where:
C 2 8
1=2hc 0=3.742x10 W.m4/m2
C
2=hc0/k=1.439x10
4
m.K
Substituting the values:

(3.1416) 4 (3.742 108W .m 4 / m2 ) 4

3.645 1010W / m 2 4
Eb  T
6.4311017 K 4

W
Eb  5.66  10 8 2 4
T 4  T 4
m K
Determining the energy emitted by the sun under the assumption of
blackbody (T=5,800 K)

E  T 4
E  (5.670  10 8W / m 2 .K 4 )(5800 K ) 4
E  64.16 MW / m 2
 In Class exercise:

2. - The spectral absorptivity () of an opaque surface and the spectral irradiation at the
surface (G) are as shown:

1) How does the reflectivity vary with the wavelength ()?

 Surface is opaque
 Surface convection effects are negligible
 Back surface is insulated.
 In Class exercise:
3. - A flat-plate solar collector with no cover plate has a selective absorber surface with a
solar absorptivity (s) of 0.95 and surface emission () of 0.1. At a given time of the day the
absorber surface temperature Ts is 120 °C when the solar radiation (Gs) is 750 W/m2, the
ambient air temperature T∞ is 30 °C, the sky absorptivity (s). The effective sky
temperature (T∞) is -10°C. Assume that the heat transfer by convection can be estimated
qconv  0.22Ts  T 
4/3
from the following relationship:   [W/m2] (Solved problem in the
book)

qconv  0.22Ts  T 
4/3

1) Calculate the useful heat removal per unite area (q) in W/m2
2) Efficiency () of the collector.