Natural convection from a plane, vertical surface in non-isothermal surroundings

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical investigation of laminar natural convection from a plane, vertical surface in non-isothermal surroundings. Conditions are derived for the existence of similarity solutions. A method is proposed for generalizing the conditions pertaining to existing similarity solutions so as to include the effect of non-isothermal surroundings. Numerical solutions of the ordinary differential equations resulting from the similarity transformation are reported for the special case of an isothermal surface. These results suggest that some variations of surrounding temperature may lead to flow reversal in the boundary layer. Experimental evidence suggests that this may be an unstable condition.