Pressure drop during the flow of stokesian fluids through granular beds

Abstract

The resistance to flow of Stokesian fluids (i.e. time-independent fluids with no yield stress) through granular beds is discussed. A definition of friction factor λ and generalized Reynolds number Re′BK is proposed for fluids obeying the "power-law" shear stress-shear rate relation. The generalized Ergun equation, derived in this paper, gives the dependence of the friction factor on the generalized Reynolds number and flow behaviour index n. The validity of the generalized Ergun equation was proved experimentally. In the case of Newtonian fluid (for n = 1·0) a more exact form of the classical Ergun equation is obtained. © 1974.