Plate In Porous Medium Research Articles

Similarity solutions for mixed convection from horizontal impermeable surfaces in saturated porous media

Boundary-layer analysis is performed for mixed convection about a horizontal flat plate in a saturated porous medium with aiding external flows, where the governing parameter is found to be Ra (RePr) 3 2 . Similarity solutions are obtained for (i) horizontal flat plates at zero angle of attack with constant heat flux and (ii) stagnation point flows about horizontal flat plates with wall temperature varying as T w α χ 2. Temperature and velocity profiles for these two cases at selected values of Ra (RePr) 3 2 are presented. The heat-transfer rate is shown to be asymptotically approaching the forced and free convection values as the value of Ra (RePr) 3 2 approaches the limits of 0 and ∞'. The criteria for pure and mixed convection about horizontal flat plates in porous media are established.