Abstract
We analyse the convection flow of a viscous fluid through a horizontal channel enclosing a fully saturated porous medium. The Galerkin finite element analysis is used to discuss the flow and heat transfer through the porous medium using serendipity elements. The velocity, the temperature distributions and the rate of heat transfer are analysed for variations in the governing parameters. The profiles at different vertical levels are asymmetric curves, exhibiting reversal flow everywhere except on the midplane. In a given porous medium, for fixed G or N, the temperature in the fluid region at any position in fluids with a higher Prandtl number, is much higher than in fluids with a lower Prandtl number. Likewise, other parameters being fixed, lesser the permeability of the medium, lower the temperature in the flow field. Nu reduces across the flow at all axial positions, while it enhances along the axial direction of the channel. Nu reduces with decrease in the Darcy parameter D, and thus lesser the permeability of the medium, lesser the rate of heat transfer across the boundary at any axial position of the channel.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bejan, A.: On the boundary layer regime in a vertical enclosure titled with a porous medium, letters heat transfer, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 6 (1979), 93-102.
Burns, P. J., Chow, L. C. and Tien, C. L.: Convection in a vertical slot filled with porous insulation, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 20 (1977), 919-926.
Cheng, P.: Heat transfer in geothermal systems, Adv. Heat Transfer 14 (1978), 1-100.
Combarnous, M. A. and Bia, P.: Combined free and forced convection in porous media, Soc. Petro. Engrs. J. 11 (1971), 399-405.
Donaldson, I. G.: The simulation of geothermal systems with a simple convective model, Geothermics 2 (1970), 649-654.
Elder, J. W.: Steady free convection in a porous medium heated from below, J. Fluid Mech. 27(1) (1967), 29-48.
Haajizadeh, M. and Tien, C. L.: Combined natural and forced convection in a horizontal porous channel 27 (1984), 799-813.
Homsy, G.M. and Sherwood, A. E.: Convective instabilities in porous media with throughflow, A.I.Ch.E.J., 22 (1976), 168-174.
Horne, R. N. and Sullivan, M. J. O.: Oscillatory convection in a porous medium, J. Fluid Mech. 66 (1974), 339-352.
Poulikakos, D.: A departure from the Darcy model in boundary layer natural convection in a vertical porous layer with uniform heat flux from the side, ASME J. Heat Transfer 107 (1985), 716-720.
Prabhamani, R. P. and Rudraiah, N.: Stability of hydromagnetic thermo conductive flow through porous medium, Am. Soc. Mech. Engrs. Series E, J. Appl. Mech. 40 (1973), 879-884.
Prats, M.: The effect of horizontal fluid flow on thermaly induced convection currents in porous mediums, J. Geophysics 71 (1966), 4835-4837.
Raptis, A. A.: Unsteady free convective flow through a porous medium, Int. J. Engng. Sci. 21 (1983), 345.
Rudraiah, N. and Srimani, Finite P. K.: Finite-amplitude celluar convection in a fluid saturated porous layer, Proc. R. Soc. A.V. 373 (1980), 199-222.
Straus, J. M.: Large amplitude convection in porous media, J. Fluid Mech. 64 (1974), 51-63.
Simpkins, P. G. and Blythe, P. A.: Convection in a porous layer, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 23 (1980), 881-887.
Weber, J. E.: The boundary layer regime for convection in a vertical porous layer, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 18 (1975), 569-573.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Krishna, D.V., Prasada Rao, D.R.V. & Sugunamma, V. Finite Element Analysis of Convection Flow Through a Porous Medium in a Horizontal Channel. Transport in Porous Media 36, 69–83 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006513000488
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006513000488