FORCED-CONVECTION FROM AN ISOLATED HEAT-SOURCE IN A CHANNEL WITH POROUS-MEDIUM

A numerical study is made of flow and heat transfer characteristics of forced convection in a channel that is partially filled with a porous medium. The flow geometry models convective cooling process in a prin ted circuit board system with a porous insert. The channel walls are a ssumed to be adiabatic. Comprehensive numerical solutions are acquired to the governing Navier-Stokes equations, using the Brinkman-Forchhei mer-extended Darcy model for the regions of porous media. Details of f low and thermal fields are examined over ranges of the principal param eters; i.e., the Reynolds number Re, the Darcy number Da (=K/H-2), the thickness of the porous substrate S, and the ratio of thermal conduct ivities R(k) (=k(eff)/k). Two types of the location of the porous bloc k are considered. The maximum temperature at the heat source and the a ssociated pressure drop are presented for varying Re, Da, S, and R(k). The results illustrate that as S increases or Da decreases, the fluid flow rate increases. Also, as R(k) increases for fixed Da, heat trans fer rates are augmented. Explicit influences of Re on the flow and hea t transport characteristics are also scrutinized. Assessment is made o f the utility of using a porous insert by cross comparing the gain in heat transport against the increase in pressure drop.