A method of control of transfer processes (Q1841290)

The paper presents an effective medium theory for coupled heat conduction and mass diffusion of a solute in a heterogeneous medium made of two constituents. It is shown that the effective properties of heterogeneous medium depend on its microstructure and on thermal and diffusive properties of the constituents. The theory is used to analyse the control of heat and mass flow using a smart barrier. The barrier is made of suspension of spheroidal particles randomly distributed in a carrier fluid. Externally induced changes in the orientation of particles provide variation in effective material properties. Estimates for the control of solute flow, by application of bulk concentration and temperature gradient to the walls of the barrier, have been obtained. The authors also study the effects of different parameters on the species mass flow.