Multiple Solutions for Buoyancy-Induced Flow in Saturated Porous Media for Large Peclet Numbers

The problem of buoyancy-induced secondary flow in fluid-saturated porous media is examined using a numerical model. The natural convection is coupled either with a forced axial flow or uniform internal heat generation. In both cases the model equations are shown to exhibit dual solutions over certain ranges of flow parameter. In the two-parameter space of aspect ratio and Grashof number, the flow transition between the two-vortex and four-vortex pattern can be explained in terms of a tilted cusp.