AUTOWAVE SOLUTIONS OF A MATHEMATICAL-MODEL OF A CATALYTIC FIXED-BED WITH A REVERSIBLE-REACTION

We analyse the phenomenon of heat wave propagation in a catalytic fixe d-bed according to a pseudo-homogeneous model and in the special case of a single reversible first-order reaction. Besides the well known so -called slow heat waves, fast heat waves (or travelling waves of the f irst type) are found to propagate in a sufficiently extensive bed. We study the factors that initiate such fast waves and the effect of vari ous parameters (kinetic and heat) on their behavior as well. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.