Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering (IJChE)

Abstract A numerical investigation was carried out to solve the flow dimensionless partial differential equations through rectangular microchannels. A purely viscous power law model was used to characterize the flow behavior of non-Newtonian fluids. The flow was assumed to be steady and laminar, and slip conditions were used as boundary conditions at the walls. The problem was solved for different power law indices as well as for various rectangular aspect ratios. Results showed that the effects ofslip velocity on dilatant fluids are more pronounced than that for pseudoplastic fluids. An increase in the power law index enhances the product of the friction factor and the Reynolds number, as well as the dimensionless incremental pressure drop and the dimensionless maximum velocity, while the hydrodynamic entrance length decreases. Results emphasize the significant effects of channel aspect ratio on the hydrodynamic flow behavior through microchannels.

Abstract The present study attempted deriving and solving the falling- cylinder governing equations for power law model non-Newtonian fluids. Based on this theoretical study, a novel falling- cylinder rheometer (FCR) was designed and constructed to measure the Theological properties of non-Newtonian fluids. Different falling cylinders with predesigned densities were used to determine the apparent viscosity of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solutions in water with various concentrations. The results indicate that all PVA solutions obey the power law model with the power law index as well as the consistency index changing linearly with concentration. Increasing concentration of the solution decreases power law index, while enhances consistency index and apparent viscosity.