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

The onset of vortex instability in primary laminar natural convection how o ver an inclined plate embedded in a porous medium was analyzed. Forchheimer 's model involving thermal dispersion was used to examine inertia effects o n the onset of Vortex instability. By employing the propagation theory we h ave developed, the critical streamwise position to mark the onset of statio nary longitudinal vortex rolls was predicted. The predicted stability crite ria were compared well in the range of 25 degrees less than or equal to y l ess than or equal to 60 degrees with experiments of ionic mass transfer in aqueous CuSO4 solution systems. Also, new mass transfer correlations of Shr were suggested for 0 degrees less than or equal to y less than or equal to 60 degrees and Ra(L)less than or equal to 7000. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.