NUMERICAL STUDY OF LAMINAR MIXED CONVECTION IN A VERTICAL SATURATED POROUS ENCLOSURE: THE COMBINED EFFECT OF DOUBLE DIFFUSION AND EVAPORATION

Abstract

Steady laminar mixed convection in a fluid-saturated, vertical, and homogeneous porous enclosure has been studied numerically based on a two-dimensional mathematical model. The buoyancy forces that induce the fluid motion are due to the temperature and concentration gradients on the vertical walls. The fluid movement is described by Darcy's law, and transfers are given by the equation's conservation of heat and mass transfer in the liquid phase. Results are presented in the form of stream lines, isotherms, concentration lines, and the evaporation velocity as a function of dimensionless physics parameters that govern the phenomena (R ct , R r/c , Pr, Sc,...). This treatment takes into consideration the effects of evaporation on the upper side wall of the system.