Seminar 3/23: Power Law Fluid Flow Past a Circular Cylinder: Momentum & Heat Transfer

Department of Chemical Engineering
West Virginia University

Seminar

Power Law Fluid Flow Past a Circular Cylinder:
Momentum & Heat Transfer

Dr. Raj P. Chhabra
(visiting professor from India Institute
of Technology, Kanpur, India)
Chemical Engineering Department
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN

ABSTRACT

The study of the flow of fluids past a circular cylinder is a classical problem in the field of Newtonian fluid mechanics, and it has been investigated for more than a century. Besides having theoretical significance, this simple situation is relevant to flow in tubular and pin-type heat exchangers and is encountered in the course of polymer processing, especially during the filling of molds containing fiber performs. It is readily recognized that many materials encountered in chemical, food and polymer engineering applications are non-Newtonian; these can exhibit either shear-thickening or shear-thinning viscous behavior which can be mathematically represented by the power-law equation. In spite of their frequent occurrence in a range of industrial settings, it is somewhat surprising that very little reliable information is available on the flow of power law liquids past a circular cylinder and on the corresponding convective transport processes.

In this presentation, new extensive results elucidating the interplay between the rheological and kinematic parameters are presented for steady two-dimensional flow. In particular, the field equations are solved numerically for a range of values of the Reynolds number, the power law index and the Prandtl number to understand their influence on the values of the drag coefficient and the Nusselt number. In addition, detailed streamline and isotherm contours are presented to capture wake characteristics. The limiting values of the Reynolds number denoting the cessation of creeping flow and of the two-dimensional steady regimes are also delineated and explained. The presentation concludes by comparing the numerical predictions with the scant experimental results available in the literature.

Friday, March 23, 2007 9:30am - 10:45am
Room 401, Engineering Sciences Building
Refreshments will be served at 9:15 am

Questions or Directions call: 304-293-2111, ext. 2418.

03/23/2007