Cross-diffusion induced reaction-convection in a Brinkman porous layer

This paper aims to investigate the onset of convection, heat and mass transports in a sparse porous layer saturated with chemically reactive binary fluid mixture heated and salted from below under the influence of Soret and Dufour effects.

The Brinkman model is used for momentum equation. Linear stability analysis based on normal mode technique is used to evaluate the onset threshold for stationary and oscillatory convection. In weak-nonlinear theory, the truncated Fourier series method is used. The resulting system of differential equations is solved numerically by using the Runge–Kutta fourth-order method.

Because of the competition between the processes of thermal, solute diffusions, chemical reaction and cross-diffusions, the onset of instability is via oscillatory mode instead of stationary. The effect of dissolution/precipitation of reactive component and the cross-diffusions on the stability, heat and mass transports is investigated.

By the proper adjustment of underlying parameters, the onset of convection can either be advanced or delayed as per the requirement. Therefore, the present investigation forms a useful tool for regulating the onset of convection.