Appropriate Mean Absorption Coefficients for Infrared Radiation of Gases

In this paper, a study is made on the calculation of appropriate mean absorption coefficients for the infrared radiation of gases. The Planck and Rosseland mean absorption coefficients for the optically thin and optically thick gases are expressed as functions of the spectroscopic and thermodynamic properties of the gas. Values of the Planck and Rosseland mean absorption coefficients are presented for carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and water vapor in the temperature range from 1000 to 5000 deg Rankine. To illustrate the application of these results, the radiative heat flux is calculated for the simple case of a planar medium.