THE EFFECT OF STIRRING ON THE LIMITS OF THERMAL-EXPLOSION

It is analysed theoretically how the stirring of an exothermically rea cting fluid layer affects its thermal explosion limits. Analytical and numerical analyses reveal that, in accordance with the intuitive expe ctations, the short-scale stirring makes the thermal explosion more di fficult through the increased heat transfer to the boundaries. However , under the long-scale stirring, promoting formation of hot spots, tra nsition to the explosion may be facilitated rather than hampered.