Software for integrating ODEs

Example

Consider the pair of differential equations (covered in a class on 11 February:

<rst> .. math::

\dfrac{dX}{dW} &= \dfrac{-r_A'}{F_{A0}} \ \dfrac{dy}{dW} &= -\dfrac{\alpha}{2y}\left(1 + \varepsilon X\right)

Some terminology (recap from your pre-requisite math courses)

* The independent variable is $W$ * The two dependent variables (variables being integrated with respect to the independent variable) are $X$ and $y$

Since there are two dependent variables, we require initial conditions for each variable. In this case:

* :math:`X(0) = 0.0` * :math:`y(0) = 1.0`

We also need to specify initial **and final conditions** for the independent variable:

* :math:`W` initially is 0.0 at the reactor entrance * :math:`W` finally is 20.0 kg at the reactor exit

But there are a few other unknowns we must first specify:

* :math:`r_A' = -k' \dfrac{(1-X)y}{(1+\varepsilon*X)}` * :math:`q = \dfrac{(1 + \varepsilon*X)}{y}` * :math:`F_{A0} = 0.1362\,\text{mol.s}^{-1}` * :math:`k' = 0.0074\,\text{mol.s}^{-1}\text{.(kg catalyst)}^{-1}` * :math:`\alpha = 0.0367\,\text{kg}^{-1}` * :math:`\varepsilon = -0.15`

</rst>

Python

Mac computers

• Start the built-in Mac program called Terminal
• Type the following commands:

# first install "easy install" 
sudo easy_install ipython
sudo easy_install readline
sudo easy_install numpy
# Download and install "gfortran-4.2.3.dmg"
sudo easy_install scipy
ipython

and you should some something like:

Kevins-MacBook-Pro:~ kevin$ ipython
Python 2.7.2 (default, Jun 20 2012, 16:23:33) 
Type "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

IPython 0.13.1 -- An enhanced Interactive Python.
?         -> Introduction and overview of IPython's features.
%quickref -> Quick reference.
help      -> Python's own help system.
object?   -> Details about 'object', use 'object??' for extra details.

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