BANGALORE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Batch: 2022 Academic Year: 2024-25 Semester: VI
Course with Code: Project Work (BME685)
Title of the Project: HEAT TRANSFER IN A SQUARE POROUS
MEDIUM WITH A HEATED RIGHT WALL
Team Members:
SL. NO. NAME OF THE STUDENT USN
1 HARIKRISHNA S 1BI23ME417
2 HARIPRASAD S 1BI23ME416
3 JAGAN R SHANKAR 1BI23ME422
4 JNANASAGAR V P 1BI23ME425
Guide: Mr. Hemanth Kumar C B, Assistant Professor
PROJECT SYNOPSIS
1. Synopsis
This work investigates natural convection in a porous square cavity where the right vertical wall
is uniformly heated while the other walls are adiabatic or kept at a lower temperature. The study
employs the Darcy–Brinkman model with governing equations expressed in dimensionless form
using Rayleigh, Darcy, and Prandtl numbers. Numerical simulations are carried out using the
Finite Element Method (FEM) in MATLAB to obtain isotherms, streamlines, and local/average
Nusselt numbers. The results provide insights into heat transfer performance and flow patterns
within the cavity, highlighting the effect of porous media properties on natural convection. Such
analysis is relevant for thermal insulation, geothermal reservoirs, and electronic cooling
applications.
Project Synopsis
2. Introduction
The study explores heat transfer in a square porous enclosure with free convection, where the
right wall is heated. The porous medium, saturated with water, experiences buoyancy-driven
flow due to temperature variations. The Finite Element Method (FEM) is used to solve governing
equations, ensuring accuracy through grid independence analysis.
3. Background and History of Porous Media
Porous media refers to materials that contain interconnected voids or pores, allowing fluids
(liquids or gases) to flow through them. Examples include soil, rocks, sponges, biological tissues,
and engineered materials like foams and filters.
Historical Development
1. Early Observations: The concept of porous media dates back to ancient times when people
observed how water moved through soil and rocks. This knowledge was crucial for agriculture,
irrigation, and well-digging.
2. Darcy’s Law (1856): French engineer Henry Darcy formulated a mathematical law describing
fluid flow through porous materials, laying the foundation for modern porous media research.
3. 20th Century Advances: Scientists expanded the study to various applications, including oil
recovery, groundwater movement, heat transfer in insulation, and medical research.
4. Modern Applications: Today, porous media are widely used in engineering, environmental
science, energy storage, biomedical fields, and thermal management in electronics and buildings.
4. Project Objectives
The objectives of the present research work are as follows:
1. To define a square cavity geometry with a porous medium and establish the boundary
conditions, featuring a heated right wall, a cold left wall, and adiabatic horizontal walls.
2. To formulate the mathematical model by deriving the governing equations for fluid flow
(mass and momentum conservation) and heat transfer (energy conservation) within the
porous square enclosure under natural convection.
3. To develop a numerical simulation procedure using the Finite Element Method (FEM) to
solve the coupled governing equations for the defined problem.
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Project Synopsis
4. To validate the developed numerical model by comparing the results for the Average Nusselt
Number and flow fields with established benchmark studies available in the literature.
5. To conduct a comprehensive parametric study by varying the key dimensionless numbers—
specifically the Rayleigh Number (Ra) and Prandtl Number (Pr)—and analyze their impact
on the Average Nusselt Number streamlines, and isotherms.
6. To propose a correlation that describes the relationship between the Average Nusselt Number
and the governing parameters (Ra, Pr) for the studied configuration.
5. Literature Review
Heat transfer through porous media has been widely studied due to its applications in energy
systems, electronics cooling, and geothermal processes. When the right wall of a square porous
enclosure is heated, natural convection plays a significant role in heat transfer. Researchers have
used numerical methods like the Finite Element Method (FEM) to analyze temperature
distribution and flow patterns.
• Basak et al. (2006): Investigated natural convection in porous square cavities under various
wall heating conditions using finite element analysis. They concluded that the type of boundary
heating strongly controls circulation patterns and heat transfer rate. Their results serve as a
benchmark for porous cavity studies but did not emphasize right-wall heating specifically.
• Sathiyamoorthy et al. (2004): Focused on linearly heated side walls in square porous cavities.
Their study revealed that non-uniform heating modifies streamline structures and increases the
Nusselt number with higher Rayleigh numbers. This work highlights the significance of wall
temperature profiles on convection strength.
• Amanifard et al. (2010): Considered electrokinetic effects in porous media at the microscale.
They demonstrated that electrical double layers (EDL) alter pressure drop and heat transfer
characteristics in porous microchannels. Though specialized, this study shows how additional
physical effects can influence porous convection.
• Khashan et al. (2010): Applied a non-Darcian and thermal non-equilibrium model to porous
cavities. Their results proved that non-Darcy effects (Forchheimer terms) and two temperature
models can significantly affect both velocity and thermal fields. This work emphasizes the need
to carefully choose governing models in porous media research.
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Project Synopsis
• Mirzaei & Mahmoudi (2011): Examined porous cavities with wavy walls subjected to an
external magnetic field. They found that both cavity geometry and magnetic forces strongly
modify natural convection flow and heat transfer performance. Their study illustrates how
external conditions can be used as control mechanisms in porous convection systems.
• Basak, Roy & Pop (2007): Analysed natural convection in triangular porous enclosures under
differentially heated conditions. They showed that enclosure geometry changes circulation
strength and produces multiple flow cells depending on heating direction. Although based on
triangular geometry, their conclusions underline the importance of boundary shape in porous
convection.
• Vafai (2015) & Ingham & Pop (2005): Provided comprehensive theoretical and modelling
frameworks for porous media transport. These works discuss Darcy, Brinkman, and Forchheimer
models, thermal non-equilibrium formulations, and the role of Rayleigh and Darcy numbers in
characterising convection. They form the standard foundation for most porous convection
studies.
These studies highlight that the heating condition of the right wall strongly influences the
temperature distribution, fluid flow, and heat transfer efficiency in porous enclosures. The
application of FEM allows for accurate modelling, helping to optimize thermal performance in
various engineering applications.
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Project Synopsis
6. Methodology
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Project Synopsis
7. Expected Outcomes or Possible Outcomes
• Temperature and velocity distributions in the porous cavity.
• Influence of Rayleigh number and FEM grid resolution on heat transfer.
• Validation of results through grid-independent solutions.
• Find the average Nusselt number.
8. REFERENCES
• Benabderrahmane Farhat, [Link]. (2024). Finite Element Analysis of Laminar Natural
Convection in a Differentially Heated Porous Cavity Using the Darcy–Brinkman Model. DOI:
[Link]
• Musa Bahmani, [Link]. (2024). Numerical study of the porous cavity with different square size
vanes with a high focus on Nusselt number. DOI: [Link]
• Saleh A, [Link]. (2025). Natural convection in a square Cavity: Effects of Rayleigh and Prandtl
numbers on heat transfer and flow patterns. DOI: [Link]
• Basak, [Link]. (2006). Natural convection in a square cavity filled with a porous medium: Effects
of various thermal boundary conditions. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 49,
pp. 4525–4535. DOI: 10.1016/[Link].2006.04.030.
• Sathiyamoorthy, [Link]. (2004). Steady natural convection flow in a square cavity filled with a
porous medium for linearly heated side wall(s). International Journal of Heat and Mass
Transfer, 47(6–7), pp. 1541–1552. DOI: 10.1016/[Link].2003.09.022.
• Amanifard, [Link]. (2010). Heat Transfer in Porous Media Considering the Electrical Double
Layer Effects. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 37, pp. 1610–1615.
DOI: 10.1016/[Link].2010.09.004.
• Khashan, [Link] (2010). Numerical Simulation of Natural Convection Heat Transfer in a Porous
Cavity Heated from Below Using a Non-Darcian, Thermal Non-Equilibrium Model. Transport
in Porous Media, 84, pp. 441–458. DOI: 10.1007/s11242-010-9574-z.
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Project Synopsis
• Mirzaei, [Link]. (2011). Free convection in a square wavy porous cavity with partly magnetic
field: A numerical investigation. Transport in Porous Media, 86, pp. 703–721. DOI:
10.1007/s11242-010-9595-7.
• Basak, [Link]. (2007). Natural convection and flow simulation in differentially heated isosceles
triangular enclosures filled with porous medium. International Journal of Thermal Sciences,
46(2), pp. 141–151. DOI: 10.1016/[Link].2006.04.003.
• Mirzaei, [Link]. (2011). Free convection in a square wavy porous cavity with partly magnetic
field: a numerical investigation. Transport in Porous Media, 86, pp. 703–721. DOI:
10.1007/s11242-010-9595-7.
• Textbook References
• Heinemann, [Link]. (1979). Fluid Flow in Porous Media. Society of Petroleum Engineers,
Richardson, TX, Volume: Chapter 12 in Springer Series, pp. 345–378. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-
031-41973-7_12.
• Vafai, [Link]. (2015). Handbook of Porous Media, 3rd Edition. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
ISBN: 9781466559946, volume: Chapter 6, Chapter 17 & Chapter 19, pp. 928. DOI:
10.1201/b18614.
• Oosthuizen, [Link]. (1999). Introduction to Convective Heat Transfer Analysis. McGraw-Hill,
volume: Chapter 3, Chapter 5 & Chapter 11, pp. 624. ISBN: 9780070484760.
• Ingham, [Link]. (1998-2005). Transport Phenomena in Porous Media, Volumes I–III. Elsevier,
Oxford, Chapter 4, Chapter 7 & Chapter 9, 446 pp.
Signature of Guide
