The paper discusses the numerical solution of the one-dimensional radially axi-symmetric non-linear second-order differential equation to model the conduction and radiation transfer through a spherical domain as a result of an exothermic heat source. The equation is transformed to a non-dimensional form. The dimensionless numbers emanating from the transformation represent the effect of the reaction rate, reaction type, activation energy, radiation and the convection on the temperature. The non-dimensional differential equation for the temperature distribution was previously solved using the Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg method coupled with a Shooting technique. In this paper the solution of the non-dimensional differential equation using an iterative Galerkin finite element method approach employing the Picard method is described. The commercial finite element code Comsol is also employed to solve the non-dimensional differential equation. The current study was motivated by inconsistencies that were observed in the previous results that were presented. Although the assumed underlying physics is used to evaluate the results, the study focuses purely on the numerical solution of the non-dimensional differential equation. The results obtained by the Galerkin finite element code and Comsol were found to be in exact agreement and also exhibit no inconsistencies.

This article is based on a thesis to be submitted for the DBA degree at the University of Potchefstroom.