FLOW OF POWER LAW LIQUIDS THROUGH PARTICLE ASSEMBLAGES AT INTERMEDIATE REYNOLDS-NUMBERS

The complete equations of motion and continuity have been solved numerically using the finite element method for the flow of power law liquids through assemblages of rigid spherical particles. The inter-particle interactions have been simulated using the free surface cell model. Extensive results on drag coefficients have been obtained under a wide range of physical and operating conditions (0.9999 greater-than-or-equal-to is-an-element-of greater-than-or-equal-to 0.3), 1 greater-than-or-equal-to n greater-than-or-equal-to 0.4 and 20 greater-than-or-equal-to Re greater-than-or-equal-to 1. The observed dependence of drag coefficient on voidage and non-Newtonian flow behaviour index have been explained qualitatively with the aid of order of magnitude considerations. Finally, the theoretical predictions have been validated using suitable experimental data available in the literature.