Thermal radiation effect on boundary layer over a flat plate having convective surface boundary condition

Abstract

This paper presents the effect of thermal radiation on the boundary layer over a flat plate. The convective boundary condition is applied at the surface of the flat plate. The solution to the coupled non-linear transport equations is obtained using the Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg fourth-fifth order (RKF45) method. The impact of thermal radiation on mercury, air, sulphur oxide and water whose Prandtl numbers (Pr ) are 0.044, 0.72, 2, and 7 respectively are depicted using line graphs and tables. The impact of Prandtl number (Pr ), local convective heat transfer (a) and temperature difference (CT) on temperature distribution are also presented. The results indicated that the boundary layer thickness decreases with Pr augment but increases with increasing values R. Furthermore, R augment is inversely proportional to the temperature gradient near the plate while an opposite trend is observed away from the plate. The results also indicated that R augment reduces heat transfer but an opposite trend is observed with Pr augment. Pr augment has a decreasing effect on boundary layer thickness and a augment has an increasing effect on temperature.