Analytical and numerical exploration of oscillatory convection in porous media

This study is part of the research about the influence of the thermal gradient on the composition and the stability of fluids in geological environments. This paper presents modelling results of oscillatory convection in a porous medium using the METSOR code. The model solves the heat and mass transport equations in a porous medium and takes into account the Soret effect (mass transport under thermal gradient). Oscillatory convection may occur in pure fluids and in binary mixtures (as a consequence of the Soret effect). Experimental data confirm the existence of this phenomenon in porous media. Here, the outputs of the METSOR code are verified against existing analytical solutions. A first modelling attempt of oscillatory convection in mixtures is presented (salt aquifer).