Fall of Spherical Particles in Viscoelastic Fluids

In this contribution, the results of experimental determination of the drag coefficient correction factor for spherical particles moving slowly through a Carreau viscosity model fluid are presented. The experimental values of the correction factor, which were evaluated from measurements of terminal falling velocity of seventeen types of spherical particles in viscoelastic polymer solutions, are compared with those calculated numerically using a finite elements method. The results obtained confirm that in the case of shear thinning concentrated polymer solutions the viscoelastic effects are only of minor significance. However, in the case of less concentrated high-molecular polymer solutions in polyalkylene glycol Emkarox an evident drag enhancement has been observed.