Similarity solutions for buoyancy induced flows in a saturated porous medium adjacent to impermeable horizontal surfaces

Abstract

In the present paper similarity solutions for the convective flow induced by buoyancy in a saturated porous medium adjacent to horizontal impermeable surfaces are obtained. The analysis incorporates the variation of permeability from the wall and expressions for boundary layer thickness, local and overall surface heat-flux are obtained. Applications of the results to convective flows in a geothermal reservoir are discussed.