Mixed convection and onset of instability due to asymmetric wall heat fluxes in a porous channel

Abstract

The problem of convective instability onset in a horizontal porous channel is explored. The channel's impermeable walls are heated with asymmetric thermal conditions modelled through unequal, but uniform, wall heat fluxes. A stationary solution describing the mixed convection flow is obtained from the governing local balance equations. Then, the linear instability of this flow is analysed by formulating an eigenvalue problem with normal modes. The research specifically highlights the role of the flow rate regime, parametrised through the P\'eclet number, where the Rayleigh number and the heat flux asymmetry ratio are key to defining when instability occurs. The numerical solution of the stability eigenvalue problem is achieved by employing the shooting method. Analytical results are also obtained by employing large-wavelength asymptotic expansions. A numerical analysis is performed to discuss the neutral stability curves and the critical values of the Rayleigh number under different flow and asymmetry conditions.