Laminar free-convection in water with variable physical properties adjacent to a vertical plate with uniform heat flux

The steady laminar boundary layer flow of water along a vertical stationary uniform flux plate is studied. The working fluid is water whose density–temperature relationship is nonlinear at low temperatures and viscosity and thermal conductivity are functions of temperature. The results are obtained with the numerical solution of the boundary layer equations and cover the temperature range between 40 and 0 °C taking into account the temperature dependence of (mu), k and (rho). Both upward and downward flow is considered. The variation of (mu), k and (rho)with temperature has a strong influence on the results.