Thermal explosion in homogeneous mixtures – a novel approach to analysis

Abstract

A novel approach for analysing critical phenomena in exothermically reacting mixtures for arbitrary order of reactions is suggested. Criteria are obtained for the thermal explosion degeneration of reactions characterised by low activation energy (kinetic factor of degeneration) or low heat release (thermodynamic factor of degeneration). Analytical expressions are suggested for the thermal explosion critical conditions taking into account reactants consumption for any reaction order at small values of the Arrhenius parameter (high activation energies). This allows the determination of the characteristic regions in the Todes parameter–Semenov parameter plane and to establish the boundaries of applicability of the classical theory. New thermokinetic parameters are introduced for phase trajectory analysis and a new type of reaction modes diagram is proposed for analysis of self-heating prediction.

Keywords:

• thermal explosion
• reactants consumption
• critical conditions
• degeneration
• demarcation lines