SINGLE-PHASE FLOW-THROUGH POROUS CHANNELS .2. FLOW MODELS, CRITICAL LENGTH, AND VISCOUS SEPARATION

Fluid flow through porous channels and in free-space into a two-dimens ional sink is considered in an attempt to determine the critical (fini te) channel length that is compatible with the entry conditions to the channel derived in Part I of the work. The effect of the presence of a porous matrix on the critical channel length is analyzed for differe nt types of porous media and the different models describing the flow. The effect of the entry conditions to the channel on flow structure i s discussed for the various models and compared with the results of fl ow in a regular (nonporous) channel as governed by the Navier-Stokes e quations.