A Direct Comparison between the Negative and Positive Effects of Throughflow on the Thermal Convection in an Anisotropy and Symmetry Porous Medium

Abstract

Abstract The linear and nonlinear stability analysis of the motionless state (conduction solution) and of a vertical throughflow in an anisotropic porous medium are tested. In particular, the effect of a nonhomogeneous porosity and a constant anisotropic thermal diffusivity have been taken into account. Then, the accuracy of the linear instability thresholds are tested using a three dimensional simulation. It is shown that the strong stabilising effect of gravity field. Moreover, the results support the assertion that the linear theory, in general, is accurate in predicting the onset of convective motion, and thus, regions of stability.