輻射熱傳是熱傳除了傳導及對流外的第三種模式,特性為:不需介質、熱傳率與絕對溫度的四次方相關、傳遞方向、發射與接受面相對角度可明顯改變熱傳率、熱輻射強度也隨波長不同。熱輻射在許多領域舉足輕重,包括:太陽能利用、太空機具冷卻、材料冶煉、快速退火、火焰與燃燒、廢熱回收、超低溫研究、電子元件、季節更替、全球暖化等,無一不與熱輻射相關。
另一方面,光學與其應用也有部分與輻射熱傳領域重疊,因為熱輻射的本質是光或電磁波,波長範圍涵蓋紫外光、可見光、紅外光。所以,物質與光的作用(吸收、放射、反射、穿透)可以說是光學反應,亦可稱之為熱輻射性質。
陳玉彬博士為輻射熱物理與工程實驗室主持人,他領導一個以清華大學動機系學生為主的團隊,在熱輻射領域裡探索知識與尋求真理,進而藉由工程訓練,開發新的應用或提升現有元件效能。在好奇心驅使的過程中,每一位成員都有專屬的研究課題,在邏輯、數學、物理、光學、電磁學以及機械工程基礎上努力,互助合作以獲致滿意的成果。
Radiation heat transfer is one heat transfer mode besides conduction and convection. Its characteristics include: (a) Intervening medium is unnecessary; (b) Heat transfer rate is related to the fourth power of absolute temperature; (c) Heat transfer rate depends on direction and relative orientation between absorber and emitter; (d) The rate may differ with wavelength of thermal radiation. Thermal radiation dominates in many fields, such as solar energy utilization, cooling in space, ore smelting, material rapid thermal annealing, combustion and flame, waste heat recycling, and cryogenic research. The length scale varies from a few nanometers (among electronic heating devices) to the size of our whole world (global warming).
On the other hand, research topics of optics and photonics are partially overlapped with those of thermal radiation because they aim at light or electromagnetic waves. Ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light are all within the scope. As a result, optical responses (absorptance, emittance, reflectance, and transmittance) are also reviewed as radiative properties.
Dr. Yu-Bin Chen is the principal investigator (PI) of Radiation Thermophysics and Engineering Laboratory (RTELab). He leads a team mainly composed of students from Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan. The team explores all scopes related to thermal radiation. Simultaneously, members have a lot of fun in the great ocean of truth. Each team member has his/her own project, but members support each other. Tools at their hands include logic, physics, mathematics, optics, electromagnetism, and engineering training. They gain new knowledge and obtain fruitful results during everyday at RTELab.