A theoretical study of pressure drop for non†Newtonian creeping flow past an assemblage of spheres

A combination of Happel's free surface model and variational principles is used to obtain bounds on the drag offered by the creeping flow of a power law fluid past an assemblage of solid spheres. The theoretical predictions of the product of the Fanning friction factor ƒ and Reynolds number Rep are in close agreement with available experimental data on non‐Newtonian flow through porous media. The product (ƒ Rep) reduces for the Newtonian case to that of Happel and Brenner. Copyright © 1976 American Institute of Chemical Engineers