Heat Transfer to Non-Newtonian Fluids

Book excerpt: This book has been written with the idea of providing the fundamentals for those who are interested in the field of heat transfer to non-Newtonian fluids. It is well recognized that non-Newtonian fluids are encountered in a number of transport processes and estimation of the heat transfer characteristics in the presence of these fluids requires analysis of equations that are far more complex than those encountered for Newtonian fluids. A deliberate effort has been made to demonstrate the methods of simplification of the complex equations and to put forth analytical expressions for the various heat transfer situations in as vivid a manner as possible. The book covers a broad range of topics from forced, natural and mixed convection without and with porous media. Laminar as well as turbulent flow heat transfer to non-Newtonian fluids have been treated and the criterion for transition from laminar to turbulent flow for natural convection has been established. The heat transfer characteristics of non-Newtonian fluids from inelastic power-law fluids to viscoelastic second-order fluids and mildly elastic drag reducing fluids are covered. This book can serve the needs of undergraduates, graduates and industry personnel from the fields of chemical engineering, material science and engineering, mechanical engineering and polymer engineering.