The numerical solution of large systems of linear differential equations

Abstract

AbstractIn chemical engineering and process control, the numerical solution of large systems of linear, time‐invariant, differential equations must often be considered. Standard numerical techniques such as the Runge‐Kutta method usually require excessive computational time. Since often the time solution of only a few variables is desired in such large systems, a method has been developed to take advantage of this and allows the solution of large systems of differential equations to be obtained in an extremely fast and efficient manner. The basis of the method is to solve for the poles and zeros of the system and then to find the time solution in terms of these poles and zeros.