Linear convective stability and thermal diffusion of a horizontal quiescent layer of a two component fluid in a porous medium

Abstract

The effect of thermal diffusion (soret effect) on the convective stability of a two component fluid in a porous medium has been investigated by the linear theory using normal mode technique. Both the Darcy and the usual viscous resistance terms have been taken into account in the momentum equation. The results are presented in terms of a parameter called the Soret parameter for a system bounded by rigid boundaries. The most important result is that a stability has been found which suppresses the convection current even when the density gradient is adverse, i.e. (heated from below and salted from above). Presence of rigid boundaries makes the system more stable.