Evaluación de Coeficientes de Fricción en el Transporte de Fluidos No-Newtonianos

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to measure pressure drops to obtain friction coefficients of non-Newtonian fluids. A transport system was employed using various piping transport systems through which test fluids were passed while measuring volumetric flows and pressure drops. The friction coefficients obtained for water as a reference fluid ranged from 0.42 to 25.7, and for solutions containing the sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) were from 0.43 to 38.1. The friction coefficients increased with increases in the concentration, which allowed determination of a potential relation between this coefficient and the concentration of the salt for most of the fittings and type of pipes tested. The differences found when comparing the experimentally obtained values with those reported in the literature were attributed to the rheological behavior of the fluid, the circuit employed in transporting the fluid, and the so-called "mutual influence effect" of the pipe fittings.