Free convection boundary layers in a saturated porous medium with lateral mass flux

Abstract The effects of uniform lateral mass flux on the free convection boundary layer on a vertical wall in a saturated porous medium are considered. A series valid near the leading edge is derived and this is extended by a numerical solution of the full equations. Asymptotic expansions, valid at large distances along the plate, are derived in both the cases of withdrawal and injection of fluid. In the former case the boundary layer has constant thickness, while in the latter case there is a region of constant temperature next to the wall made up of fluid that has been injected through the wall, with an outer region where thermal diffusion is important.