The effect of aspect ratio on heat transfer in a square cavity filled with a porous medium

Abstract

Two dimensional mathematical model of an enclosure filled with a porous medium and heated from the lower end with various values of the width to height ratio (aspect ratio) has been studied in the present article. A two dimensional free convection model has been solved numerically using finite difference technique to evaluate the streamlines, isotherm lines, and the average Nusslet number. The set values where; Rayleigh number of 106, Prandtl number of 0.72, and aspect ratio ranging from 1:4 to 4:1. The model has been validated and the results showed that the aspect ratio has a clear effect on the average Nusselt number and that increasing the flow rate for aspect ratio form 1:4 to 4:1.