Classical Lie point symmetry analysis of nonlinear diffusion equations describing thermal energy storage

Abstract

In this paper, we employed the linear transformation group approach to time dependent nonlinear diffusion equations describing thermal energy storage problem. Symmetry analysis of the governing equation resulted in admitted large Lie symmetry algebras for some special cases of the arbitrary constants and the source term. Some transformations that lead to equations with fewer arbitrary parameters are applied and classical Lie point symmetry methods are employed to analyze the transformed equations. Some symmetry reductions are performed and wherever possible the reduced ordinary differential equations are completely solved subject to realistic boundary conditions.