Non-Newtonian Flow in the Process Industries 118

3.5Laminar flow between two infinite parallel plates

The steady flow of an incompressible power-law fluid between two parallel plates
extending to infinity in x- and z-directions, as shown schematically in Figure 3.15
will now be considered. The mid-plane between the plates will be taken as the
origin with the flow domain extending from y D b to y D Cb. The force
balance on the fluid element ABCD situated at distance šy from the mid-plane,
.can be set up in a similar manner to that for flow through pipes
p Ð 2Wy .p C p/2Wy D yz Ð 2Wdz. .3.61/
 
p
i.e. yz D y .3.62/
L
The shear stress is thus seen to vary linearly, from zero at the mid-plane to a
maximum value at the plate surface, as in the case of pipe flow. The system
is symmetrical about the mid-plane .y D 0/ and equation (3.62) needs to be
solved only for 0 < y < b. Because dVz /dy is negative in this region, the
shear stress for a power-law fluid is given by:
 
dVz n
yz D m .3.63/
dy
 Flow in pipes and in conduits of non-circular cross-sections 119

y y=b tyz
B D
p y p + ∆p

A C
x L

Figure 3.15 Laminar flow between parallel plates

Now combining equations (3.62) and (3.63) followed by integration yields for
the velocity distribution:
   1/n
n 1 p
Vz D y .nC1//n C constant
nC1 m L

At the walls of the channel (i.e. when y D šb), the velocity Vz must be zero
to satisfy the condition of no-slip. Substituting the value Vz D 0, when y D b:
   1/n
n 1 p
constant D b.nC1//n
nC1 m L

and therefore:
   1/n   y .nC1//n 
n 1 p
Vz D b.nC1//n 1 .3.64/
nC1 m L b

The velocity distribution is seen to be parabolic for a Newtonian fluid and

becomes progressively blunter as the value of n decreases below unity, and
sharper for shear-thickening fluids. The maximum velocity occurs at the centre-
plane and its value is obtained by putting y D 0 in equation (3.64):
    1/n
n .nC1//n 1 p
Maximum velocity D Vmax D b .3.65/
nC1 m L

The total rate of flow of fluid between the plates is obtained by calculating
the flow through two laminae of thickness dy and located at a distance y from
the centre-plane and then integrating. Flow through laminae:

dQ D 2W dy Vz
    1/n   y .nC1//n 
n .nC1//n 1 p
D 2W b 1 dy
nC1 m L b
120 Non-Newtonian Flow in the Process Industries

Then, on integrating between the limits of y from 0 to b:

   1/n
n 1 p
Q D 2bW b.nC1//n .3.66/
2n C 1 m L
The average velocity of the fluid:
Q
VD
2bW
   1/n
n 1 p
D b.nC1//n .3.67/
2n C 1 m L
A similar procedure can, in principle, be used for other rheological models
by inserting an appropriate expression for shear stress in equation (3.62). The
analogous result for the laminar flow of Bingham plastic fluids in this geometry
is given here:
  
2Wb2 p 3 1
QD Ðb 1  C 3 .3.68/
3B L 2 2
 
p
where  D 0B Ð b D 0B /w .
L
Example 3.9

Calculate the volumetric flow rate per unit width at which a 0.5% polyacrylamide
solution will flow down a wide inclined surface (30° from horizontal) as a 3 mm thick
film. The shear stress–shear rate behaviour of this polymer solution may be approx-
imated by the Ellis fluid model, with the following values of the model parameters:
0 D 9 PaÐs; 1/2 D 1.32 Pa; ˛ D 3.22 and the solution has a density of 1000 kg/m3 .
Assume the flow to be laminar.

Solution

A general equation will be derived first for the flow configuration shown in Figure 3.16
by writing a force balance on a differential element of the fluid.
In a liquid flowing down a surface, a velocity distribution will be established with
the velocity increasing from zero at the surface itself .y D 0/ to a maximum at the
free surface .y D H/. For viscoplastic fluids, it can be expected that plug-like motion
may occur near the free surface. The velocity distribution in the film can be obtained
in a manner similar to that used previously for pipe flow, bearing in mind that the
driving force here is that due to gravity rather than a pressure gradient; which is absent
everywhere in the film.
In an element of fluid of length dz, the gravitational force acting on that part of the
liquid which is at a distance greater than y from the surface is given by:
.H y/W dzg sin ˇ
 ,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

or
y
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
, , , , ,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
, , , , , , ,

or 0
, , , , , , , , ,

z
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

yz Ð W dz

dy
dVz
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
, , , , ,

yz D
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

at the free surface.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

g cos b

1C
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,

0

(
yz Ð W dz D .H


,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


g

At equilibrium therefore:

yz D g.H
and this will be given by:

D yz 1 C
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

90

1/2
dy
°


H

dVz
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
, , , , ,



,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

1/2
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

yz ˛ 1
, , , , , , , ,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, , , , ,

y/ sin ˇ
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

yz ˛ 1
, , , , ,

g sin b

 )
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

y/W dzg sin ˇ

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
, , , , ,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

dz
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Figure 3.16 Schematics of flow on an inclined plate

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
, , , , ,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Velocity Profile

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

b
,,,,,,,,,,,y,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
, , , , ,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Flow in pipes and in conduits of non-circular cross-sections

,,, ,,, ,,, ,,, ,,, ,,, ,,, ,,,

If the drag force at the free surface is negligible, the retarding force for flow will be

The shear stress is seen to vary linearly from a maximum at the solid surface to zero
121

.3.70/
.3.69/
attributable to the shear stress prevailing in the liquid at the distance y from the surface

Since dVz /dy is positive here, the shear stress for an Ellis model fluid is given by:
122 Non-Newtonian Flow in the Process Industries

Substitution of equation (3.69) into equation (3.70), followed by integration and using
the no-slip boundary condition at the solid surface .y D 0/ yields:
!  
g sin ˇ y2 .g sin ˇ/˛ H˛C1  y ˛C1
Vz D Hy C ˛ 1
1 1 .3.71/
0 2 0 .˛ C 1/1/2 H

The volumetric flow rate of liquid down the surface can now be calculated:
Z H
QDW Vz dy .3.72/
0

Substituting equation (3.71) in equation (3.72) and integrating:

gH3 W sin ˇ W.g sin ˇ/˛ H˛C2

QD C .3.73/
30 0 .˛ C 2/.1/2 /˛ 1

For a Newtonian fluid, 1/2 ! 1, and both equations (3.71) and (3.73) reduce to the
corresponding Newtonian expressions.
The maximum velocity occurs at the free surface, and its value is obtained by
putting y D H in equation (3.71):

g sin ˇ H2 .g sin ˇ/˛ H˛C1

Maximum velocity D Vmax D C .3.74/
20 0 .˛ C 1/.1/2 /˛ 1

For a vertical surface, sin ˇ D 1.

For the numerical example, ˇ D 30° ; H D 3 mm and substituting the other values
in equation (3.73):


Q 1000 ð 9.81 ð .3 ð 10 3 /3 12
D
W 3ð9

3.22
1000 ð 9.81 ð 12 .3 ð 10 3 /5.22
C
9.3.22 C 2/.1.32/3.22 1
6 4
D 4.91 ð 10 C 5.95 ð 10
D 6 ð 10 4 m3 /s per metre width.