MODELLING THE IMPACT OF RADIATIVE HEAT LOSS ON CO2 EMISSION, O2 DEPLETION AND THERMAL STABILITY IN A REACTIVE SLAB

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the effects of thermal radiation on CO2 emission and O2 depletion in an exothermic reactive slab of combustible materials with uniform surface temperature. The governing equations for the nonlinear heat and mass transfer problem are derived and solved numerically using Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg method with shooting technique. Numerical expressions for temperature field, CO2 emitted and O2 depleted are derived and utilised to obtain expressions for Nusselt number and Sherwood number at the material surface. The effects of various thermo-physical parameters on the temperature field, CO2 emission and O2 depletion are depicted graphically and discussed quantitatively. Thermo-physical parameters that help to reduce CO2 emission and hence O2 preservation, are identified, including those which help to monitor measures to avoid explosions in spontaneous combustion processes.