SOLUTIONS OF LUIKOV EQUATIONS OF HEAT AND MASS-TRANSFER IN CAPILLARY-POROUS BODIES

This paper presents an analytical method to solve the Luikov system of linear partial differential equations subject to specified initial and boundary conditions. Luikov equations are the governing equations in analyzing heat and mass diffusion problems for capillary-porous bodies. However, an analytical method to obtain complete and satisfactory solutions of these equations is still lacking in the literature. The method of solution presented in this paper is illustrated by considering the transient distributions of temperature and moisture in a slab of wood during drying. Numerical results are obtained and compared with published finite element solutions and experimental data for spruce specimens. The method should have a general application to problems of heat and mass transfer in capillary-porous bodies.