ABSTRACT

Heat and fluid flow in porous media have found wide applications ranging from nature to industry. The flow of air into a human lung, flow of water in soil, fluid flow in underground geothermal fields, flow of crude oil in underground reservoirs, and even air flow between tree trunks in forests are some examples of transport in a porous environment. The flow of hot air for drying in fixed packed beds, the use of metal foams to enhance heat transfer, and fluid flow in membranes are examples of industrial applications. Due to these extensive uses, the number of studies that focuses on porous transport field has increased exponentially in recent years.