Abstract:
An estimate is made of the accuracy in determining the wave speed for an exothermic reaction of order 1 $\le n\le$ 3 in a condensed phase by means of the semi-infinite reaction zone and certain other analytical methods. The boundaries have been revised for the existence of steady-state nondegenerate and stable wave states in the activation parameter plane. For $n\ge$ 2, a solution has been obtained on the existence and uniqueness of a stationary reaction wave. The semi-infinite zone method and numerical solution of the nonstationary equations for concentration and temperature (1 $\le n\le$ 3) have been used to determine how the characteristic width of the reaction wave varies with the propagation speed as the initial reagent concentration varies.