Methodology to Obtain Universal Solutions for Systems of Coupled Ordinary Differential Equations: Examples of a Continuous Flow Chemical Reactor and a Coupled Oscillator

Abstract

This paper presents a concise and orderly methodology to obtain universal solutions to different problems in science and engineering using the nondimensionalization of the governing equations of the physical–chemical problem posed. For its application, a deep knowledge of the problem is necessary since it will facilitate the adequate choice of the references necessary for its resolution. In addition, the application of the methodology to examples of coupled ordinary differential equations is shown, resulting in an interesting tool to teach postgraduate students in the branches of physics, mathematics, and engineering. The first example used for a system of coupled ordinary differential equations is a model of a continuous flow chemical reactor, where it is worth noting; on the one hand, the methodology used to choose the reference (characteristic) time and, on the other, the equivalence between the characteristic times obtained for each one of the species. The following universal curves are obtained, which are validated by comparing them with the results obtained by numerical simulation, where it stands out that the universal solution includes an unknown that must be previously obtained. The resolution of this unknown implies having a deep knowledge of the problem, a common characteristic when using the methodology proposed in this work for different engineering or physicochemical problems. Finally, the second example is a coupled oscillator, where it is worth noting that the appearance of characteristic periods that implicitly or explicitly affect the particles’ movement is striking.

Keywords

• nondimensionalization
• universal solution
• dimensionless groups
• numerical simulation
• differential equations
• engineering problem