Free convection boundary layers on a vertical surface in a heat-generating porous medium

The natural convection boundary-layer flow on a solid verticalsurface with heat generated within the boundary layer at a rateproportional to (T – T)^p (p 1) is considered. The surfaceis held at the ambient temperature T except near the leadingedge where it is held at a temperature above ambient. The behaviourof the flow as it develops from the leading edge is examinedand is seen to become independent of the initial heat input;however, it does depend strongly on the exponent p. For 1 p 2, the local heating eventually dominates at large distancesand there is a convective flow driven by this mechanism. Forp 4, the local heating does not have a significant effect,the fluid temperature remains relatively small throughout andthe heat transfer dies out through a wall jet flow. For 2 <p < 4, the local heating has a significant effect at relativelysmall distances, with a thermal runaway developing at a finitedistance along the surface.