Slow non‐newtonian flow through packed beds: Effect of zero shear viscosity

Abstract

The slow non‐Newtonian (inelastic) flow through packed beds of mono‐size spherical particles has been simulated by solving the equations of motion numerically. The inter‐particle interactions have been modelled by using a simple cell model. Theoretical estimates of pressure, friction and total drag coefficients as function of the pertinent physical (l≥n≥ 0.2; 0.3 ≤ e ≤ 0.5) and kinematic parameters (0.01 ≤ '≤ 100) for a fixed value of Reynolds number {Re = 0.001) have been obtained. The theoretical predictions reported herein have been validated using the suitable experimental results available in the literature, and the importance of including the zero shear viscosity in analyses for the creeping flow problems is convincingly demonstrated.

Non- Newtonian Drag Reducing Flow Characteristics in Porous Media

“…From the readings of the steady-state pressure drop through the porous media and the flow rate, the Reynolds number 𝑅𝑒 and friction factor 𝑓 were computed according to the eqns. (3,4).…”

“…Non-Newtonian flow through porous media is critical and has numerous practical uses in processes such as enhanced oil recovery in underground reservoirs, polymer solution filters, groundwater hydrogeological, ceramic processing, and solid matrix heat exchangers. Many industrial operations, such as those in the oil and chemical industries, use non-Newtonian fluid flows with drag-reducing features through a porous medium [1][2][3][4][5].…”

Drag on a sphere in a spherical dispersion containing Carreau fluid

“…Adopting free surface cell model [2] and variational principles, Chhabra and Raman [19] were able to obtain bounds on the drag for the creeping flow of a Carreau fluid past an assemblage of rigid spheres. Staish and Zhu [20] and Jaiswal et al [21,22] solved numerically the problem of an unbounded slow flow of non-Newtonian fluids (power-law or Carreau model) through an assemblage of rigid spheres. Using both a free surface cell model and a zero vorticity cell model, Ferreira et al [23,24] considered the steady flow of an incompressible power-law fluid across an assemblage of rigid cylinders.…”