Ismail Fahmi

ChE 7043 (Heat and Mass Transfer)

Written Project
Submitted to: Francis S. Manning PhD PE
28th of April, 2008

Heat Transfer on a Laminar Bingham Plastic (Yield Power Law) Fluids

Over a Circular Tube
I. Introduction and Overview
Bingham Plastic (BP) fluids or mathematically often referred as Yield Power Law
(YPL) fluids is a kind of Non-Newtonian fluids. In an earlier course, ChE 7003,
the writer submitted a report discussing the momentum transfer about this kind of
fluid. It was discussed that analyzing the momentum transfer is crucial for the
pressure distribution characterization, which is essential in many YPL fluids
applications, such as: Drilling and Fracturing fluids.
For the purpose of learning continuity and subject of interest, the writer decided to
submit a report concerning the heat transfer of the same kind of material in a
specialized case as requested by the instructor. The proposal to perform the
writing with this area of discussion submitted on the 27th of March, 2008 had been
approved by the instructor.
A. Definition
In this section, a brief review on the basic definition of BP or YPL fluids will
be given. Prior to that, here is the definition of Newtonian fluid
mathematically.

v
r

Where is the shear stress caused by the flow (units of pressure),

v
is the
r

velocity gradient (shear rate) that is perpendicular to the shear stress (units of
velocity per units of distance), and is the linear constant and defined as the
fluid viscosity (units of pressure multiplied by units of time).
Knowing the Newtonian fluid definition, it can be simply defined that NonNewtonian fluids are the ones that do not obey the equation above. There are
several classifications of Non-Newtonian fluids. However, the one that will be
discussed in this paper is BP or YPL solely. The mathematical definition of
this kind of fluid of interest is given below.

v
y K
r

Where n is the power factor (unitless), K is a proportional constant (units of

pressure times units of time to the power of n), and y is called the yield stress
(units of pressure) in which the term yield is based on obviously. Please
note that the kind of fluid in the discussion of this paper has a non-zero y
because otherwise, it would not be a YPL fluid, but it will be Power Law (PL)
fluid.
B. Main Scope
In writing this paper, the writer only performed literature research and
therefore, any numerical values and relations or equations given are totally
obtained from published sources instead of being measured or obtained from
experiments. Further, the writer narrowed the case with following main
specialization criteria.
1. Laminar flow.
2. Flow over circular tube.
3. Isothermal properties.
The deeper explanation concerning the aspects above is given in later sections
of this paper. Since the flow over circular tube is involved, then the r, z,
system is used. Further, the writer also assumed that all momentum
characterizations including all properties in shear rate shear stress relation
and the velocity profile have been fulfilled. Therefore, the writer only
discusses about the heat transfer aspect. Besides the main criteria above, the
writer adds more assumptions along the way of the discussion.
II. Discussion
In this part, a thorough discussion in describing the case and obtaining proper
solution is given. As preferred by the instructor, any mathematical derivations that
are considerably lengthy are not explained in this paper.
A. Physical Properties Measurement
In performing the heat transfer analysis, some physical properties are required
to be obtained. In this section, methods of obtaining the values of any
variables are explained.
Skelland explained that for mass density and specific heat, the conventional
way can be performed to obtain the values. However, in many cases, BP or
YPL fluid contains insoluble suspended solids. In this case, weighted average

measurement and calculation is more preferable than just simply measuring

the bulk properties.
Skelland also noted that the wall shear stress (w) and the yield stress (y) can
be obtained by numerical analysis approach by conducting experiments to find
correlation between y and the average velocity, U. Most of the time, the
numerical analysis is performed by putting an isothermal properties as
initial approach (Skelland).
Measuring the thermal conductivities is a special challenge because any
convection movement needs to be diminished. Skelland explained the Orr and
Dalla Valle method of using a 0.001 in-high plate or dish to contain the fluid
sample, heated on one surface and cooled down on the other one. Skelland
also mentioned that to minimize any convection further, 2% of water-based
agar is added. The amount of solid agar added needs to be known because that
will affect the fluids thermal conductivity as well.
B. The General Equation
As mentioned earlier, the assumptions taken in the case of interest for this
paper include laminar fluid, flow over circular tube, and isothermal
properties. Some additional assumptions are listed below.
1. Heat is transferred radially (r-direction) and flow moves axially (zdirection), but since isothermal properties assumption is taken, then the
velocity is only r-dependent.
2. Steady state flow. By accepting this assumption, any change with respect
of time is considered negligible or zero.
3. Heat of friction (caused by the shear stress) is considered negligible
compared to the heat by conduction and the bulk flow. This assumption
actually fits the fact that the flow is laminar which means that in a constant
diameter and viscosity, the flow is considerably small, which yields into a
negligible magnitude of its gradient.
4. Since the properties are isothermal or temperature independent, this
assumption yields to a zero term for the full derivative of the pressure.
Utilizing these assumptions into the energy equation, the following operation
can be performed. The general equation for the laminar flow in a circular tube
is the one on the final line of the derivation.


(ln ) DP
T

C p
v T q : v
(ln T ) Dt
t

C v T (kT )
p

v T

k
k
2T and if
, then

C p
C p
T
T

r
z
r r
T
2T 1 T

z
v z r 2
r r
vz

= mass density (units of mass per volume)

=
C
p

specific heat in constant pressure (units of energy per mass per

temperature)
k = thermal conductivity (units of force per time per temperature)
T = temperature
v = velocity vector
v z = velocity in the z-direction = u(r)

q = heat flux vector (units of energy per time per area)

= shear stress tensor (units of force per area)

P = pressure
t = time
r = radial distance (where r = 0 is at center and r = R is at the tube wall)
z = axial distance (where z = 0 at inlet)
= thermal diffusivity (units of length squared per time)
C. The Case of Interest
Departing from the general equation for the laminar flow in the circular tube
that is shown in the earlier section, in this chapter a specialized case is
discussed. Besides all the conditions that are already mentioned before, the
description of this cases circumstances is listed below.
1. Constant wall (Tw) and inlet temperature (Ti).
2. The velocity profile is fully developed from the inlet until wherever the
heat transfer occurs.
Further important aspect is concerning the internal heat generation because
this model approaches the real condition for example in nuclear reactors using
thorium oxide slurries (Skelland). This internal heat generation term (per unit
volume) is expressed as Qg. Basically, to obtain the rigorous, nonapproximating, result, one need to substitute the u(r) expression into the
general relation for the laminar flow in a circular tube and then solve for the
temperature profile.

However, please note that the u(r) expression contains constants um (maximum
velocity) and R (tube radius) and variables r, w, y, and n. Most of the time,
the u(r) expression can not be obtained in an analytical form. Instead, it is
obtained through numerical analysis and if an analytical result is really
required, an approximation is made in a certain range of variable and several
limited conditions. As a result, even in a stage of determining the velocity
profile, the simple analytical solution can not be obtained, the difficulty
definitely couples as one tries to substitute it to the energy equation.
Therefore, in determining the temperature profile, a general form of
expressions is established.

Tw T
r
A j ( ) R j ( )
Tw Ti
R
j 1

= dimensionless axial distance = z / um R2

A j ( ) = a composite variable
Rj (

r
) = an eigenfunction
R

In a special case where Qg = 0, the general form of expressions becomes the

relation shown below.

Tw T
r
C j exp( j2 ) R j ( )
Tw Ti
R
j 1

Skelland mentioned that all components values for the first seven terms for c
of 0, 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75, where c = y / w, had been tabulated in Wisslers
work. Another important definition is the mean reduced temperature, , at any
values of and the dimensionless internal heat generation. Note that T is the
mixed-cup temperature at .

Tw T
Tw Ti
um
U
Qg R 2

Qg '

(Ti Tw )k

Two plots of as a function of at several values of c given Qg = 0 and Qg =

1 are attached in the appendix section of this paper.

Having the mixing-cup temperature, the heat transfer coefficient (at a

certain position x) can actually be obtained based on the following
reasonings).
Since

Tw T ( z , r )
r
C j exp( j2 ) R j ( )
Tw Ti
R
j 1

And
R

Tx

T ( z, r ) u(r ) rdr
0

u (r ) rdr
0

When an expression of T(z, r) is obtained, one can get the expression for the
mixing-cup temperature.
Since
qw

R
dTx
UC p
2
dx

And
QTOT R 2UC p (TL Ti )

It will only be a matter of getting a proper heat transfer coefficient with its
corresponding temperature difference (either mean reduced, log mean, or
mean arithmetic). In a condition that is approached by this model, a proper
heat removing (or providing) system can be designed.
III.Summary
Non-Newtonian fluid, especially BP or YPL fluid is a kind of fluid in which its
analytical solution is practically impossible to solve; either for momentum, heat,
or even the molecular transfer. In this paper, a sample case of laminar BP or YPL
fluid in a circular tube demonstrates such point. Even with many simplifications
in many aspects, the problem is still hard to solve (i.e. to find a simple T (z, r)
solution). However, knowing the mixing cup temperature at any x-distance
profile is enough to determine the heat transfer coefficient roughly.

The reference used by the writer was written by Skelland and published 1967. In
this book, it was mentioned several times every time the summation relation is
involved that all sequential variables had been tabulated in some other references.
It definitely reflects the condition of computing technology at that time that still
uses IBM card. With todays technology, more accurate (probably close to
analytical) solution must have been worked out, even though probably not far
from Skellands results. The writer hopes that a complete and concise guide
similar to what Skelland had written to molecular transport of Non-Newtonian
fluid can be published or it can be the writers opportunity for research.s

IV. Appendix

V. Work Cited
Skelland, A. H. P. Non-Newtonian Flow and Heat Transfer. New York Wiley,
1967. pp. 359-371.