Modelação matemática aplicada a processos de combustão: avanços na teoria de modelação da combustão

Abstract

Combustion modeling theory is an area of science that focuses on developing mathematical and computational models to describe and predict combustion processes, which occur when a fuel reacts with an oxidant, usually oxygen in the air. In this paper we discuss the fundamental concepts for the description of the combustion phenomenon, namely fuels, mass and energy conservation equations and chemical kinetics. Thermodynamic concepts, kinetic models and fluid mechanics models are applied to model an ideal combustion process in a combustion chamber of a jet engine. Once the model has been solved, we show the temperature variations in the combustor caused by the injection of hot gases into the chamber and by combustion. We also illustrate, by solving the model, the consumption of the air-fuel mixture by combustion. Finite differences method centered in time and space (Crank-Nicolson) is the principal method used to solve the equations of the model. The Numerical simulations were performed using python programming language. Combustion modeling theory aims to improve our understanding of the combustion process, to optimize the use of fuels, reduce pollutants emissions and so promote safe and efficient practices in many industrial applications.