Problem of conjugate conduction and convection between finitely vertical plates heated from below

Numerical analysis of conjugate laminar natural convection and conduction between finitely conducting vertical parallel plates heated from below is studied. The heat transfer coefficient along the plate strongly dependent on both the channel fluid flow and the thermal properties of the plate is determined. The energy equation for the plate and the thermal boundary layer equation for the fluid between the parallel plates are coupled and solved by employing an implicit finite-difference technique. Results of the distributions of local heat transfer coefficient, local heat flux and temperature along the plate are presented. Results also indicate that conduction has a significant influence on the overall heat transfer rate, particularly at a high Grashof number and conjugate convection-conduction parameter. With the view of overall heat transfer rate, the effective length of conducting plate is proposed.