THERMAL DISPERSION EFFECTS ON NON-DARCY NATURAL-CONVECTION WITH LATERAL MASS FLUX

The method of similarity solution is used to study the influence of la teral mass flux and thermal dispersion on non-Darcy natural convection over a vertical flat plate in a fluid saturated porous medium. Forchh eimer extension is considered in the flow equations and the coefficien t of thermal diffusivity has been assumed to be the sum of molecular d iffusivity and the dispersion thermal diffusivity due to mechanical di spersion. The suction/injection velocity distribution has been assumed to have power function form A x(l), where x is the distance from the leading edge and the wall temperature distribution is assumed to be un iform. When l = -1/2, similarity solution is possible, and the results indicate that the boundary layer thickness decreases where as the hea t transfer rate increases as the mass flux parameter passes from injec tion domain to the suction domain. The increase in the thermal dispers ion parameter is observed to enhance the heat transfer. The combined e ffect of thermal dispersion and fluid suction/injection on the heat tr ansfer rate is discussed.