Open Access

For the simulation of one-dimensional flame configurations reliabl e numerical tools are needed which have to be both highly efficient (large num ber of parametric calculations) and at the same time accurate (in order t o avoid numerical errors). This can only be accomplished using fully adapt ive discretization techniques both in space and time together with a c ontrol of the discretization error. We present a method which accomplishes this task. It is based on a n adative MOL (method of lines) treatment. Space discretization is done by means of finite difference approxi mations on non-uniform grids. Time is discretized by the linearly-implicit Euler method. In order to control the discretization errors an extrapolation pro cedure is used in space and time. Results are presented for simple laser-induced ignition processes. The method, however, can be applied to other combustion processes, too.

The mathematical modeling of a special modular catalytic reactor kit leads to a system of partial differential equation in two space dimensions. As customary, this model contains unconfident physical parameters, which may be adapted to fit experimental data. To solve this nonlinear least squares problem we apply a damped Gauss-Newton method. A method of lines approach is used to evaluate the associated model equations. By an a priori spatial discretization a large DAE system is derived and integrated with an adaptive, linearly-implicit extrapolation method. For sensitivity evaluation we apply an internal numerical differentiation technique, which reuses linear algebra information from the model integration. In order not to interfere the control of the Gauss-Newton iteration these computations are done usually very accurately and, therefore, very costly. To overcome this difficulty, we discuss several accuracy adaptation strategies, e.g., a master-slave mode. Finally, we present some numerical experiments.