Free convection flow over an uniform-heat-flux surface with temperature-dependent viscosity

The role of temperature-dependent viscosity is studied in laminar free convection flow adjacent to a vertical surface with uniform heat flux. The resulting non-similar equations are solved by using a suitable variable transformation and employing an implicit finite difference method. It is shown that the constant viscosity results evaluated at the ambient fluid temperature underestimate the Nusselt number and overestimate the drag coefficient. The heat transfer predictions for large values of the viscosity parameter may be two times the constant viscosity parameter prediction. The present analysis is in good agreement with the corresponding correlation of previous experimental investigation.