Free convection effects on steady MHD flow past a vertical porous plate

Abstract

An analysis of two-dimensional steady flow of an incompressible, viscous, electrically conducting fluid past an infinite vertical porous plate is carried out under the following assumptions: (i) that the suction velocity normal to the plate is constant, (ii) that the plate temperature is constant, (iii) that the difference between the temperatures of the plate and the free stream is moderately large, causing free convection currents, (iv) that the transversely applied magnetic field and magnetic Reynolds number are very small and hence the induced magnetic field is negligible.

Approximate solutions to the coupled nonlinear equations governing the steady velocity and temperature are derived. They are shown graphically. During the course of discussion, the effects of positive and negative G (the Grashof number: G > 0 implies cooling of the plate, G < 0 heating of the plate), of P (the Prandtl number), of positive and negative E (the Eckert number) and of M (the magnetic field parameter) are presented quantitatively.