Numerical analysis of fluid flow in a three-dimensional porous enclosure by the Boundary Element Method

Abstract

In the present paper a three-dimensional numerical code for simulation of porous media flow is presented which is based on the Boundary Element Method (BEM). The most general mathematical model is used to describe momentum, energy and solute transport in porous media which are based upon the general Navier-Stokes equations valid for the pure fluid flow. The developed numerical algorithm enables detailed investigation of the fluid flow together with heat and solute transfer under various conditions given with different governing parameters, e.g. thermal and solutal Rayleigh numbers, Darcy number, Lewis number, buoyancy coefficient. In the paper the effect of different governing parameters on the rate of heat, solute and momentum transfer are investigated. Under a certain range of parameters, complex flow patterns occur which exhibits the importance for us to investigate the problem in three dimensions.