Radiative transfer in three-dimensional rectangular enclosures containing inhomogeneous,anisotropically scattering media

Radiative transfer in a three-dimensional rectangular enclosure containing radiatively participating gases and particles is studied using the first- and third-order spherical harmonics approximations. Inhomogeneities in the radiative properties of the medium, as well as in the radiation characteristics of the boundaries, are allowed for. The scattering phase function is represented by the delta-Eddington approximation, and it is assumed to be a function of the location in order to account for density variation of the particles in the medium. Numerical solutions of the model equations are obtained using a finite difference scheme. For the purpose of validating the P₃-approximation, the results are compared with those based on Hottel's zonal method.