Convective chemical-wave propagation in the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1995 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.51.1119· OSTI ID:166024

Wu, Y; Vasquez, D A; Edwards, B F; Wilder, J W ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6315, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-6315 (United States)

We investigate the onset of convection for chemical-wave propagation in the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction based on the two-variable Oregonator model coupled with the fluid dynamic equations. For chemical waves in a vertical slab, two-dimensional convection occurs only for slab widths greater than a critical threshold width. The convective threshold is different for ascending and descending waves. Convectionless waves are flat and propagate with constant speed. Above the onset of convection, the wave velocity increases and the flat wave deforms due to two counterrotating steady rolls. For a horizontal slab, convection is always present and the wave velocity increases with increasing slab width. Our results are compared with experiments.

• OSTI ID: 166024
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, Vol. 51, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: Feb 1995
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

40 CHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONVECTIVE INSTABILITIES
WAVE PROPAGATION
SLABS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CONCENTRATION RATIO
SPIRAL CONFIGURATION