Flow-driven instabilities in the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction: Modelling and experiments

The development of propagating patterns arising from the differential flow of reactants through a tubular reactor is investigated. The results from a series of experimental runs, using the BZ reaction, are presented to show h ow the wavelength and propagation speed of the patterns depend on the impos ed flow velocity and the concentration of BrO3- in the inflow. A model for this system, based on a two-variable Oregonator model for the BZ reaction, is considered. A stability analysis of the model indicates that the mechani sm for pattern formation is through a convective instability. Numerical sim ulations confirm the existence of propagating patterns and are in reasonabl e agreement with the experimental observations.