Mathematical investigation of a combustible visco-elastic material in a cylindrical stockpile with oxygen (O2) consumption and induced electric field

Abstract

Oxygen concentration plays crucial roles in the combustion of polymeric materials, such as reducing the emission of poisonous gases (nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide) and enhancing heat transfer. However, in the combustion process, a continuous increase in reaction rate without considering heat loss to the environment may result to the accumulation of heat in the stockpile and possible self-ignition. As such, this work investigates the thermal decomposition of an electrically combustible visco-elastic material in a cylindrical stockpile, considering O2 consumption. The nonlinear partial differential equations governing the problem were solved numerically via the bivariate spectral collocation approach (BSCA). The impact of kinetic parameters (for example, heat generation, oxygen consumption rate, and activation energy.) on the flow, heat and mass transfer, and thermal stability of the system were studied and qualitatively discussed.