Analysis of Nonlinear Heat Transfer in a Cylindrical Solid with Two-Step Exothermic Kinetics and Radiative Heat Loss

摘要

This paper examines the problem of nonlinear heat transfer in a cylindrical solid of combustible materials with two-step exothermic kinetics and radiative heat loss to the ambient surrounding. The reactant diffusion and temperature dependent pre-exponential factors with respect to sensitized, Arrhenius, and bimolecular kinetics are taken into account in the model energy balanced equation. Both regular perturbation method and numerical shooting technique coupled with Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg iteration scheme are employed to tackle the nonlinear model problem. The effects of various thermophysical parameters on the reactive cylindrical solid temperature, Nusselt number and thermal stability are discussed quantitatively with the help of computational illustrations. It is found that radiative heat loss enhances thermal stability of the material while the two-step exothermic kinetics promotes the onset of thermal instability.