Emissivity

Worked example E1: emitted power and intensity

A surface has emissivity 0.75, emitting area 0.80m2, and temperature 320K. Calculate its emitted power and emitted intensity. Treat its emissivity as constant.

Reveal the emitted power

The temperature and the surface property determine the power per unit area; multiply by the emitting area:

P=eσAT4=0.75(5.67×10-8)(0.80)(320)4

P=3.57×102W.

This is the outgoing emission. We have not yet calculated absorption from the surroundings.

Reveal the emitted intensity

Divide by the same emitting area:

Iemitted=P/A=356.7/0.80

Iemitted=4.46×102Wm2.