Investigations of heat transfer and pressure drops in tubes with non-Newtonian fluids (Q1292942)

This paper analyses the limits of applicability of power-law equations to relate the viscous properties of the fluid and the wall shear rate in tubes. It does so by considering a general equation which has power-law and Newtonian behaviour as asymptotes. The serious errors involved in the prediction of heat transfer and pressure drop in heat exchangers when the power-law is used beyond its applicability range are illustrated by specific examples for both forced and free convection in tubes, especially at low Reynolds or Grashof numbers.