Free convection from a vertical permeable circular cone with non-uniform surface heat flux

 In this paper, the problem of laminar free convection from a vertical permeable circular cone maintained with non-uniform surface heat flux is considered. The governing boundary layer equations are reduced non-similar boundary layer equations with surface heat flux proportional to x ⁿ (where x is the distance measured from the leading edge). The solutions of the reduced equations are obtained by using three distinct solution methodologies; namely, (i) perturbation solution for small transpiration parameter, ξ, (ii) asymptotic solution for large ξ, and (iii) the finite difference solutions for all ξ. The solutions are presented in terms of local skin-friction and local Nusselt number for smaller values of Prandtl number and heat flux gradient and are displayed in tabular form as well as graphically. Effects of pertinent parameters on velocity and temperature profiles are also shown graphically. Solutions obtained by finite difference method are also compared with the perturbation solutions for small and large ξ and found to be in excellent agreement. Received on 1 October 1999