Non-uniqueness for flame propagation when the Lewis number is less than 1

Abstract

We discuss the question of uniqueness of planar flames for a simple one-step chemical reaction. We show that when the Lewis number is less than unity (i.e. species diffusion is larger than heat diffusion) uniqueness cannot be generally assumed. An example with three flames, two of them being stable, is exhibited. Other related questions, such as sufficient conditions for uniqueness to hold and high activation energy limits, are discussed.