The solution of inverse radiation problems using an efficient computational technique

In our previous work (Park, Kim, JQSRT 58 (1) (1997) 115), an efficient computational technique for solving the radiative transfer equations for participating media has been devised, which is as accurate as the S4 method but consumes much less computer time. In the present investigation, we employ this technique to solve an inverse radiation problem of determining the time-varying strength of a heat source, which mimics flames in a furnace, from temperature measurements in three-dimensional participating media where radiation and conduction occurs simultaneously. The present technique is found to identify the strength of the heat source efficiently without a priori information about the unknown function to be estimated.