The effect of permeability variations on the flow in a heterogeneous porous channel subject to rotation

A significant effect of permeability variations on the three-dimensional fl uid pow in a heterogeneous porous channel subject to rotation is presented. The results of a numerical solution to the governing equations confirm for the more general case the conclusions from earlier analytical investigatio ns, which suggest that permeability functions be classified corresponding t o whether their variation is monotonic or not, and to whether their vertica l gradient is positive or not. Unicellular and multiple vortex solutions ar e obtained for the secondary, flow in the plane perpendicular to the impose d axial flow while their direction is dictated by the corresponding class o f permeability function as applicable. The impact of rotation on the impose d axial flow is shown to be significant as well, leading to different axial flow fields depending again on the class of permeability function used. In particular the rotation impacts significantly in creating axial flow defic iencies in some regions on the cross section.