Multicomponent unsteady-state film model: a general analytical solution tothe linearized diffusion-reaction problem

In this paper, a classical film model is extended to account for unsteady-s tate multicomponent diffusion and reaction coupling. The governing matrix-f orm partial differential equation is complemented by the initial and bounda ry conditions formulated as general vector functions. An additional lineari zation of the reaction source term results in the formulation which allows an analytical handling of the problem. The latter is found to be successful even with the generally set initial and boundary conditions. The solution approach combines the superposition principle and the method of the separat ion of variables extended for the matrix operations. Thr: exact analytical matrix solution obtained is a generalization of many simpler problems and e ither can be employed by itself or provides suitable preset values for rele vant numerical simulations of industrial-scale reactive separation operatio ns. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science: B.V. All rights reserved.