Three-Dimensional Linear Instability Analysis of Thermocapillary Return Flow on a Porous Plane

A three-dimensional linear instability analysis of thermocapillary convection in a fluid-porous double layer system, imposed by a horizontal temperature gradient, is performed. The basic motion of fluid is the surface-tension-driven return flow, and the movement of fluid in the porous layer is governed by Darcy＇s law. The slippery effect of velocity at the fluid-porous interface has been taken into account, and the influence of this velocity slippage on the instability characteristic of the system is emphasized. The new behavior of the thermocapillary convection instability has been found and discussed through the figures of the spectrum.     

Thermocapillary Convection in an Inhomogeneous Porous Layer

A new model consisting of an inhomogeneous porous medium saturated by incompressible fluid is investigated. We focus on the effects of inhomogeneity for the streamline patterns and instabilities of the system. Influences of the ＇mean porosity＇ and gradient of distributions of porosity are also emphasized. The results cannot be obtained by studying the media with constant porosity as carried out by other researchers, and have not been discussed before.