A GENERALIZED DIFFERENTIAL TRANSFORM METHOD FOR COMBINED FREE AND FORCED CONVECTION FLOW ABOUT INCLINED SURFACES IN POROUS MEDIA

In this article, we apply the differential transform method (DTM) to obtain approximate analytical solutions of combined free and forced (mixed) convection about inclined surfaces (or wedges) in a saturated porous medium. Both aiding and opposing flows are considered. It is found that the parameter mixed convection from inclined surfaces in porous media is Gr/Re, where Gr is the local Grashof number and Re is the local Reynolds number. DTM solutions are obtained for mixed convection from an isothermal vertical flat plate as well as an inclined plate with constant heat flux having an inclination of 45°. Temperature and velocity profiles for these two cases at different values of Gr/Re are presented. The similarity transformations are applied to reduce the governing partial differential equations (PDEs) to a set of nonlinear coupled ordinary differential equations (ODEs) in dimensionless form. DTM is used to solve the nonlinear differential equations governing the problem in the form of series with easily computable terms. Thereafter a Padé approximant is applied to the solutions to increase the convergence of the given series. Excellent correlation between DTM-Padé and numerical quadrature (shooting) solutions is achieved. The DTM-Padé simulation is shown to be a robust benchmarking tool providing an excellent means of validation of numerical methods. The study has applications in geothermal energy systems, chemical engineering filtration systems, and packed beds.