Effect of salt fingers on heat transfer for different non‐uniform concentration profiles in a micropolar liquid

Abstract

AbstractThis paper discusses the theoretical aspects of the effect of salt fingers on heat transfer for different non‐uniform concentration profiles in a micropolar liquid layer kept between two parallel plates of infinite extent separated by a thin layer, heated and soluted from above. The onset of salt finger convection (convection due to the salt finger process) is studied through the linear stability analysis theory. The system of partial differential equations is solved numerically using the normal mode analysis method and the required solution is found by applying the Galerkin method. The effect of heat transfer and concentration of micropolar liquid is obtained for (i) free–free, (ii) rigid–rigid, and (iii) rigid–free isothermal, permeable with no‐spin boundary conditions. The effect of different micropolar parameters (i.e., coupling parameter, micropolar heat conduction parameter, couple stress parameter, and inertia parameter) has been analyzed on the onset of stationary convection, and the results are depicted graphically. It is shown that different non‐uniform concentration gradients, diffusivity ratio, coupling parameter, and solutal Rayleigh number influence the heat transfer in the system. The phase of concentration flow for different boundary conditions is compared and analyzed.