The onset of vortex instability in laminar natural convection flow over an inclined plate embedded in a porous medium

Abstract

The onset of vortex instability in primary laminar natural convection flow over an inclined plate embedded in a porous medium was analyzed. Forchheimer's model involving thermal dispersion was used to examine inertia effects on the onset of vortex instability. By employing the propagation theory we have developed, the critical streamwise position to mark the onset of stationary longitudinal vortex rolls was predicted. The predicted stability criteria were compared well in the range of 25°≤ γ ≤ 60°with experiments of ionic mass transfer in aqueous CuSO4 solution systems. Also, new mass transfer correlations of Sh(L) were suggested for 0°≤ γ ≤ 60°and Ra(L) ≤ 7000. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.