Fast Analytical Radiation Model for Industrial Steam Reforming Furnace Design and Analysis

Ranjbaran, Mohammad; Darvishi, Parviz

doi:10.22034/farayandno.2026.2090268.2054

Fast Analytical Radiation Model for Industrial Steam Reforming Furnace Design and Analysis

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original research

Authors

Mohammad Ranjbaran ¹

Parviz Darvishi ²

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering,Yasouj University, Yasuj, Iran.

² Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Yasouj university, Yasuj, Iran

10.22034/farayandno.2026.2090268.2054

Abstract

Accurate radiative heat transfer modeling in reforming furnaces is challenging due to complex shadowing and self-viewing in multi-row tube bundle. This study develops an explicit analytical model for coupled “gas-wall-tube” exchange areas. The innovation lies in deriving closed-form relations for geometric obstruction in multi-row arrangements, offering a fast alternative to costly numerical simulations. Validated via energy balances and 3D numerical benchmarks, the model shows a 10% mean error, primarily due to 2D view factor approximations. Results identify diagonal exchange between adjacent rows (50% share) as the dominant self-exchange mechanism. Statistical sensitivity analysis reveals that gas temperature and tube emissivity exert the most significant main and interactive effects on radiation rates. Balancing engineering accuracy with computational speed, this model provides an efficient tool for design, troubleshooting, and thermal monitoring in industrial reforming units.

Keywords

Reforming

tube bundle

refractory

crossed strings method

analytical modeling

Subjects