Theoretical Foundations of Chemical Engineering, Vol. 38, No. 5, 2004, pp. 478–482.

Translated from Teoreticheskie Osnovy Khimicheskoi Tekhnologii, Vol. 38, No. 5, 2004, pp. 506–510.
Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Vyaz’min, Polyanin, Sysoev.

Exact Solutions of Nonlinear Unsteady-State Equations of Mass

and Heat Transfer with Bulk Reaction
A. V. Vyaz’min*, D. A. Polyanin**, and P. V. Sysoev**
* Karpov Institute of Physical Chemistry, Russian State Scientific Center,
ul. Vorontsovo Pole 10, Moscow, 105064 Russia
** Moscow State University, Vorob’evy gory, Moscow, 119899 Russia
Received April 14, 2004

Abstract—New exact solutions of some nonlinear unsteady-state mass- and heat-transfer equations are
obtained by functional separation of variables. Nonlinearities related to the complex kinetics of chemical reac-
tions and the dependence of the transfer coefficients on concentration or temperature are considered. Particular
attention is given to the solutions of equations containing arbitrary functions.

In theoretical consideration of chemical engineering
problems, of particular importance are exact solutions
of unsteady-state mass-transfer equations, since they
allow one to model transient modes of operation of
chemical reactors and other equipment. Such solutions
enable one to form correct notions of the qualitative
pattern of heat or mass transfer and, eventually, deter-
mine the optimal time of contact between phases, when
the process is highly nonequilibrium and the heat- and
mass-transfer coefficients are large [1]. Moreover,
under real industrial conditions, unsteady-state pro-
cesses are much more frequent than steady-state ones
[2].
Exact solutions are particularly significant for cor-
rectly describing the heat or mass transfer in chemically
reactive media. Taking into account the complex kinet-
ics of chemical reactions makes these equations nonlin-
ear. On the other hand, chemical reactions give rise to
high heat or concentration gradients on the scale of the
problem, when the transfer coefficients cannot be con-
sidered constant [3]. Here, there is a nonlinearity of
another type, which is related to the nonlinear depen-
dence of the transfer coefficients on temperature or
concentration. As a rule, this is the nonlinearity of
power-law or exponential type, which allows one to
solve such problems by widely using various approxi-
mate or asymptotic methods [3, 4]. However, when
constructing and testing them, one cannot dispense
with exact solutions of the corresponding equations,
which enable one to evaluate the reliability and accu-
racy of the results obtained. When computer algebra is
used to solve chemical engineering problems, it is nec-
essary to construct exact analytical solutions of heat-
and mass-transfer equations involving functional non-
linearities.
Exact solutions of linear unsteady-state heat- and
mass-transfer equations and methods for their deriva-
tion have been quite well studied [5–7]. Nonlinear
mass-transfer equations have also recently received
very serious attention. Until recently, the most widely
used and efficient methods for constructing exact solu-
tions of such equations have been group methods [8, 9].
Methods of generalized and functional separation of
variables enabled one to obtain a large number of new
exact solutions of nonlinear heat- and mass-transfer and
hydrodynamic equations [10–12]. Note also the direct
Clarkson–Kruskal method, which allows one to con-
struct noninvariant solutions [13].
NONLINEAR HEAT- AND MASS-TRANSFER
EQUATION WITH AN ARBITRARY FUNCTION
Applications often involve the Kolmogorov–Petro-
vskii–Piskunov equation, an unsteady-state heat- and
mass-transfer equation with a nonlinear kinetic func-
tion which describes the heat or mass transfer in a stag-
nant medium with bulk chemical reaction:
2
∂C ∂ C
------- = --------2- + g ( C ), (1)
∂t ∂x
where C is concentration (temperature); t is time; x is a
coordinate; and g(C) is the kinetic function of the
chemical reaction, which is considered arbitrary. Previ-
ously [11], a number of exact solutions of this equation
at different kinetic functions were described.
If the dependence of the transfer coefficient f(C) on
concentration (temperature) is arbitrary, then instead of
Eq. (1), the following equation is used:
∂C ∂ ∂C
------- = ------ f ( C ) ------- + g ( C ). (2)
∂t ∂x ∂x
Since this equation is particularly significant for
describing the heat and mass transfer in chemically
reactive media, let us consider its exact solutions in
more detail.

0040-5795/04/3805-0478 © 2004 MAIK “Nauka /Interperiodica”

 EXACT SOLUTIONS OF NONLINEAR UNSTEADY-STATE EQUATIONS OF MASS 479

Exact solutions and transformations (group classifi- Equation (5) is reduced to Eq. (6) by taking
cation) of Eq. (2) with functions f(C) and g(C) of differ-
ψ ϕ t' 2
ent forms were obtained earlier [9, 14–16]. Φ 1 = – ψ 't + ---- ϕ 't , Φ 2 = – ----, Φ 3 = ϕ , Φ 4 = 1,
ϕ ϕ
Below, we present several exact solutions of Eq. (2) (7)
with functional separation of variables of two types: [ f ( C )C 'z ] 'z g(C)
Ψ 1 = 1, Ψ 2 = z, Ψ 3 = ------------------------- , Ψ 4 = ------------ .
C = C ( Z 1 ), Z 1 = ϕ ( x ) + ψ ( t ); C 'z C 'z
C = C ( Z 2 ), Z 2 = ϕ ( t )x + ψ ( t ). Equation (6) has solutions of the form
(1) Let the function f(C) be arbitrary. Then, if the Φ1 = A1 Φ3 + A2 Φ4 , Φ2 = A3 Φ3 + A4 Φ4 ,
(8)
function g(C) is given by the expression Ψ3 = – A1 Ψ1 – A3 Ψ2 , Ψ4 = – A2 Ψ1 – A4 Ψ2 ,
A1 where A1, A2, A3, and A4 are arbitrary constants. Substi-
g ( C ) = -----------
- + A2 ,
f (C) tution of expressions (7) into expressions (8) yields the
set of ordinary differential equations
where A1 and A2 are arbitrary constants, C as a function
of x and t is found from the implicit expression [17] ψ 2 ϕ' 2
– ψ t' + ---- ϕ t' = A 1 ϕ + A 2 , – ----t = A 3 ϕ + A 4 ,
1 ϕ ϕ
∫ f ( C ) dC =
2
A 1 t – --- A 2 x + B 1 x + B 2 . (9)
2 [ f ( C )C 'z ] 'z g(C)
------------------------- = – A 1 – A 3 z, ------------ = – A 2 – A 4 z.
Here, B1 and B2 are arbitrary constants. C 'z C 'z
(2) Let the functions f(C) and g(C) be given by the If A4 = 0 and the function g = g(C) is arbitrary, then
expressions f = f(C) is given by the expressions
ϕ(C)
f ( C ) = Cϕ C' ( C ), g ( C ) = A  C + 2 --------------- , A1 A2 C + B A2 A3
 ϕ C' ( C )
f ( C ) = --------------------------
g(C) g(C) ∫
+ ------------ Z dC, (10)

in terms of an arbitrary function ϕ(C) and constant A. dC

The dependence of C on x and t is given by the implicit ∫
Z = – A 2 ------------ .
g(C)
(11)
expression [17]
In this case, the solution of Eq. (2) has the form
1
ϕ ( C ) = B1 e
2 At 2
– --- A ( x + B 2 ) , ± x + B2 A A2
2 C = C ( Z ), Z = --------------------------- - ( 2 A 3 t + B 1 ),
– ------1 – --------
2 A3 t + B1 A3 3 A3
where B1 and B2 are arbitrary constants.
where the function C(Z) is found by inverting function
(3) Let us find exact solutions of Eq. (2) with func- (11) and B, B1, and B2 are arbitrary constants.
tional separation of variables of the particular form [11]
If A4 ≠ 0 and the function g = g(C) is arbitrary, then
C = C ( z ), z = ϕ ( t )x + ψ ( t ). (3) f = f(C) is given by the expressions
It is necessary to find the functions C(z), ϕ(t), and ψ(t)
1 dC
and the right-hand side of the equation for g(C).
g(C) ∫ g(C) ∫
f ( C ) = ------------ ( A 1 C + A 3 Z dC ) exp – A 4 ------------ , (12)
Substitution of expression (3) into Eq. (2) with the
subsequent division of the result by C 'z yields 1 dC A
A4 g(C) ∫
Z = ------ exp – A 4 ------------ – ------2 .
A
(13)
2 [ f ( C )C 'z ] z
4
' g(C)
ϕ 't x + ψ 't = ϕ ------------------------
- + ------------ . (4) In this case, the solution has the form
C 'z C 'z
C = C ( Z ), Z = ϕ ( t )x + ψ ( t ),
Let us express x in expression (3) through z and substi-
tute the result into Eq. (4). This gives the functional dif- where the function C(Z) is found by inverting fun-
ferential equation in two variables, t and z: ction (13) and
A –1/2
ϕ ( t ) = ± B1 e – ------3 ,
2 A4 t
ψ ϕ 't 2 [ f ( C )C 'z ] 'z g(C)
– ψ 't + ---- ϕ 't – ----z + ϕ ------------------------
- + ------------ = 0. (5)  A 4
ϕ ϕ Cz ' C 'z
dt
Equation (5) is a functional equation of the form ∫ ∫
ψ ( t ) = – ϕ ( t ) A 1 ϕ ( t ) dt + A 2 ---------- + B 2 .
ϕ(t )
Φ 1 Ψ 1 + Φ 2 Ψ 2 + Φ 3 Ψ 3 + Φ 4 Ψ 4 = 0, (6) Here, B1 and B2 are arbitrary constants. In the particular
where all Φi are functions of one argument, and all Ψi, case g(C) = k = const, one can obtain f(C) = B1e2kC +
of the other. (B2C + B3)ekC.

THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Vol. 38 No. 5 2004

480 VYAZ’MIN et al.

NONLINEAR EQUATIONS (2) The equation with the kinetic function of mixed
OF CONVECTIVE MASS TRANSFER type,
Let us consider the equation of unsteady-state two- ∂C ∂ λC ∂C
------- = a ------  Ce ------- + b + ce
– λC
dimensional convective mass transfer in an anisotropic ∂t ∂x  ∂x 
medium with bulk chemical reaction described by an
arbitrary kinetic function in an axisymmetric transla- has the exact solution of the form
tional shear flow:
1  c
2
bλt aB 1 2bλt bλt
∂C ∂C ∂C C ( x, t ) = --- ln  B 1 e x + --------2- e + B 2 e – --- .
------- + ( ax + b 1 ) ------- + ( ay + b 2 ) ------- λ  bλ b
∂t ∂x ∂y
(14) (3) Let us now consider the equation with logarith-
∂ ∂C ∂ ∂C
= ------ f 1 ( C ) ------- + ----- f 2 ( C ) ------- – g ( C ). mic nonlinearity:
∂x ∂x ∂y ∂y
∂C ∂ ∂C
Here, a, b1, and b2 are constants, which characterize the ------- = ------ ( a ln C + b ) ------- + cC.
∂t ∂x ∂x
hydrodynamic flow pattern.
This equation allows exact solutions of the form One can show that its exact solution is the function
at B2 ± x c a+b
C = C ( z ), z = k 1 x + k 2 y + λe , (15) C ( x, t ) = exp -----------------------
- – ------ ( B 1 – 2at ) – ------------ ,
B 1 – 2at 3a a
where k1, k2, and λ are arbitrary constants and the func-
tion C(z) is described by the ordinary differential equa- where B1 and B2 are arbitrary constants.
tion (4) A more complex equation,
( az + b 1 k 1 + b 2 k 2 )C' ∂C ∂ ∂C
(16) ------- = ------ ( a ln C + b ) ------- + cC ln C + sC
=
2
[(k1 f 1(C) +
2
k2 f 2 ( C )C' ) ]' – g ( C ). ∂t ∂x ∂x

In the particular case λ = 0, there is a steady-state solu- has the exact solution
tion of traveling-wave form (15)–(16).
C ( x, t ) = exp ϕ ( t ) ( B 1 ± x ) -
Note also that Eq. (14) also allows “two-dimen-
sional exact” solutions of the form
dt
C = U ( ξ, t ), ξ = k 1 x + k 2 y, ∫ ϕ(t ) ∫
+ ( a + b )ϕ ( t ) ϕ ( t ) dt + sϕ ( t ) ---------- ,
where the function U(ξ, t) is described by the equation
a –1/2
ϕ ( t ) =  B2 e – --- .
– 2ct
∂U ∂U 
------- + ( aξ + b 1 k 1 + b 2 k 2 ) ------- c
∂t ∂ξ
∂ 2 2 ∂U
= ------ ( k 1 f 1 ( U ) + k 2 f 2 ( U ) ) ------- – g ( U ). SETS OF EQUATIONS OF MASS TRANSFER
∂ξ ∂ξ WITH TWO-COMPONENT NONLINEAR
UNSTEADY-STATE MASS-TRANSFER CHEMICAL REACTIONS
EQUATIONS WITH EXPONENTIAL Among chemical engineering problems, there are
AND LOGARITHMIC NONLINEARITIES often problems with two-component chemical reac-
Chemical engineering problems are often solved tions, when the reaction rate depends on the concentra-
using various extrapolations of the transfer coefficients tions of two reacting substances.
and the kinetic functions as functions of concentration. (1) Let us consider the set of two unsteady-state dif-
(1) Let us consider the unsteady-state equation of fusion equations coupled by the kinetic function of
diffusion with bulk chemical reaction with exponential chemical reaction:
nonlinearity: ∂C 1 ∂ C
2
C
--------- = a ----------2-1 + C 1 f  ------1 ,
k
∂C ∂ λC ∂C ∂t  
------- = a ------  Ce ------- + be . C
– λC
∂x 2
∂t ∂x  ∂x  2
∂C ∂ C C
---------2 = b ----------2-2 + C 2 g  ------1 .
k
Direct substitution shows that this equation has the
exact solution ∂t ∂x  C 2

aB
2 At f(z) = kz–m and g(z) = – kzn – m, this set describes a
C ( x, t ) = --- ln B 1 x +  ---------1 + bλ t + B 2 ,
1
chemical reaction of order n (of order n – m with
λ  λ 
respect to the component C1 and of order m with respect
where B1 and B2 are arbitrary constants. to the component C2). The values n = 2 and m = 1 cor-

THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Vol. 38 No. 5 2004

 EXACT SOLUTIONS OF NONLINEAR UNSTEADY-STATE EQUATIONS OF MASS 481

respond to the frequently occurring case of a second- where k1 and k2 are arbitrary constants and the functions
order reaction. U = U(z) and W = W(z) are found from the set of ordi-
This system has the self-similar solution of the form nary differential equations
2 2
1
-----------
1–k
azU' = ( k 1 + k 2 )U'' + f ( U, W ),
C1 = ( B1 t + B2 ) Y ( ξ ),
2 2
1
azW' = ( k 1 + k 2 )W'' + g ( U, W ).
----------- x + B3
1–k
C2 = ( B1 t + B2 ) Z ( ξ ), ξ = -----------------------
-,
B1 t + B2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
where B1, B2, and B3 are arbitrary constants and the This work was supported in part by the Russian
functions Y = Y(ξ) and Z = Z(ξ) are found from the set Foundation for Basic Research (project nos. 02-02-
of ordinary differential equations 16294 and 04-02-17281).
1 B1
aY ''ξξ + --- B 1 ξY 'ξ + ----------
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