Numerical simulation of mixed convection in a channel irregularly heated and partially filled with a porous medium

This article studies the numerical simulation of the heat transfer and the mixed convection of an incompressible fluid filling a horizontal channel where some porous blocks are intermittently inserted in transverse to the channel axis. The porous blocks are subjected to heat flux q, while the fluid compartments are subjected to heat flux q'. The local thermal equilibrium is assumed between the fluid and solid particles. We used the Darcy-Brinkman model for the flow in a porous medium. The control volume approach is used for solving the governing moment and energy equations of the mixed convection. Numerical results of the flow, the temperature fields, and the streamlines are presented and discussed. The effects of some characteristic parameters, the Reynolds number, Re, the Darcy number, Da, and the thermal conductivity ratio, R-k, on the behavior flow are analyzed. We have determined particularly the stability curve and the optimal values of Rayleigh, Reynolds, and Darcy numbers permitting the maximum heat transfer from solid particles to fluid ones with the minimum of pressure drop through the channel.