A numerical study was carried out for enhanced heat transfer from multiple heated blocks in a channel by porous covers. The flow field is governed by the Navier-Stokes equation in the fluid region, the Darcy-Brinkman-Forchheimer equation in the porous region, and the thermal field by the energy equation. Solution of the coupled governing equations is obtained using a stream function-vorticity analysis. This study details the effects of variations in the Darcy number, Reynolds number, inertial parameter, and two pertinent geometric parameters, to illustrate important fundamental and practical results. The results show that the recirculation caused by porous-covering block will significantly enhance the heat transfer rate on both top and right faces of second and subsequent blocks. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.