Abstract
In this report we investigate the thermal evolution in a one-dimensional bagasse stockpile. The mathematical model is taken from the work of Gray et al. and involves four unknowns, the temperature, oxygen, liquid water and water vapour. We first non-dimensionalise the model to identify dominant terms and so simplify the system. We then calculate solutions for the approximate and full system. It is shown that under certain conditions spontaneous combustion will occur. Most importantly we show that spontaneous combustion can be avoided by sequential building. For example, in a situation where say a 6 m stockpile can spontaneously combust we could construct a 3 m pile then some days later add another 3 m to produce a stable 6 m pile.
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