The thermoconvective stability of a porous layer overlying a solid layer is important in seafloor hydrothermal systems and thermal insulation problems. The case for constant flux bottom heating is considered. The critical Rayleigh number for the porous layer is found to increase with the thickness of the solid layer, a result opposite to constant temperature heating.

Issue Section:
Technical Briefs
Keywords:
Geophysical, Heat Transfer, Instability, Natural Convection, Porous Media
Topics:
Convection, Fluids, Heat transfer, Heating, Natural convection, Porous materials, Rayleigh number, Seabed, Stability, Temperature, Thermal insulation
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