A Numerical Study of Natural Convection in a Horizontal Porous Layer Subjected to an End-to-End Temperature Difference

Abstract

A numerical study of steady, natural convection in a fluid-saturated, horizontal, porous layer subjected to an end-to-end temperature difference is reported. The analysis is performed using a finite element computer program based on the Galerkin form of the finite element method. Heat transfer rates are predicted for aspect ratios ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 and Rayleigh numbers in the range 25 to 200. Representative plots of temperature and velocity fields are presented. Comparisons are made with an approximate analytical solution and regions of validity are identified for the analytical solution.