A FULLY ADAPTIVE ALGORITHM FOR PARABOLIC PARTIAL-DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS IN ONE SPACE DIMENSION

A numerical algorithm for the solution of systems of parabolic partial differential equations in one space dimension with a fully adaptive t ime and space grid control is presented. The adaptivity is based upon a detailed estimation of the errors coming from the discretizations of both space and time. The basic features of the error estimation proce dure and its implementation into the code PDEX are discussed. The adva ntages of the method are shown through comparison with conventional al gorithms for simulations of reversed flow fixed bed reactors and the s tartup behaviour of automobile catalytic converters.