Nonlinear Convection of a Power-Law Fluid-Saturated Reactive Porous Layer

The present study examines the thermal stability characteristics of a power-law fluid confined within a porous layer under the influence of a chemical reaction. In the linear regime, the Galerkin technique is utilized to obtain closed-form solutions for the Rayleigh number associated with both stationary and oscillatory instability modes. The validity of the principle of exchange of stabilities is confirmed, demonstrating that convection sets in solely through stationary disturbances. Furthermore, to investigate the mechanisms of heat and mass transfer, the Landau equation is derived. The results indicate that the Damkohler, Lewis, and Peclet numbers contribute to an enhancement of heat and mass transport, whereas the solutal Rayleigh number tends to suppress these transport processes.