Approximate analytical solutions for steady-state nonisothermal convection–diffusion–reaction in a slab

Approximate analytical solutions for a slab undergoing a combination of convection, diffusion and reaction for nonisothermal conditions are obtained, with the reaction assumed to be first order. The solutions are developed using the perturbation method for different situations, depending on the reaction and convection parameters. The behavior of the concentration and temperature profiles inside the slab are investigated; and, the effects of controlling parameters, such as convection, on the system are studied. It was found that the maximum temperature within the slab is achieved when the reaction and convection processes dominate the system, regardless of the strength of the convection in this regime. The maximum temperature is affected by the convection in other cases.