The problem of free convection flow of a non-Newtonian power law fluid along an isothermal vertical flat plate embedded in the porous medium is considered in the present study. The physical coordinate system is shown schematically in Fig 1. In the present study, it is assumed that the modified Darcy law and the boundary layer approximation are applicable. This implies that the present solutions are valid at a high Rayleigh number. With these simplifications, the governing partial nonlinear differential equations can be transformed into a set of coupled ordinary differential equations which can be solved by the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. Algebraic equations for heat transfer rate and boundary layer thickness as a function of the prescribed wall temperature and physical properties of liquid-porous medium are obtained. The similarity solutions can be applied to problems in geophysics and engineering. The primary purpose of the present study is to predict the characteristics of steady natural convection heat transfer using the model of the flow of a non-Newtonian power law fluid in a porous medium given by Dharmadhikari and Kale (1985). Secondly, the effects of the new power law index n on heat transfer are investigated.
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Chen et al. (1988) studied this question.