Finite Element Analysis of Convection Flow Through a Porous Medium in a Horizontal Channel

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.