Physical and Rheological Properties of Animal Manure: A Review

Abstract

Abstract. This literature review was conducted on the physical and rheological properties of animal manure slurries and their applications. The review revealed the importance of these properties in the design of anaerobic treatment plants, pipe systems to transport slurries to treatment and storage units, and other applications and management of raw and treated slurries. The selection of pumping and mixing equipment and their power requirements, the flow behavior, mass, and heat transfer, the quality of mixing, pressure head loss, and other applications of manure slurries are affected by the physical and rheological properties. The review shows that manure slurries generally exhibit non-Newtonian pseudoplastic fluid behavior with a decreasing apparent viscosity as the shear rate increases and that the power law equation can successfully be used to describe the relationship between shear stress and shear rate, especially for low total solids concentrations. Keywords: Animal manure slurries, Apparent viscosity, Non-Newtonian pseudoplastic fluids, Power law equation, Rheological properties.