Annular Flow Characteristics of Pseudoplastic Fluids

Abstract

In this paper, the problem of axial annular flow of non-Newtonian fluids is examined. By utilizing the slot analogy, a Fanning friction factor—Reynolds number relationship for a power law fluid was developed and presented. Good agreement over the entire range of flow regimes was obtained between model predictions and experimental data. The advantage of the proposed approach is that it eliminates the need to determine the dimensionless radial position of zero shear stress required to solve flow equations. Practical applications of this work include processes in the petroleum and chemical industries in which annular flow of non-Newtonian fluids is a common occurrence.