Abstract Convective heat transfer at constant heat flux through unconsolidated porous media has been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Heat transfer measurements have been performed for convective heat transfer over a wide range of operational parameters at constant heat fluxes. In addition to heat transfer coefficients, pressure drop and temperature profiles both in radial and axial direction have been recorded. The equations of motion and energy which account for the non-Darcian effect are used to describe the flow and convective heat transfer through the porous medium. Mathematical models for the prediction of heat transfer coefficients and temperature profiles are presented which predict the experimental data with good accuracy.