A simplified couette flow solution of non-newtonian power-law fluids in eccentric annuli

Flow of non-Newtonian fluids in both the concentric and eccentric annuli is of great importance in extruders for molten plastics and wellbore fluid circulation for the removal of drilling cuttings. The steady laminar couette flow of non-Newtonian power-law fluids in eccentric annulus is employed in this study to analyze the problems of surge or swab pressures encountered when running or pulling tubular goods (pipes) in a liquid filled borehole. This is similar to the annular space created by two long co-axial cylinders with the inner cylinder in motion at a steady velocity, and a stationary outer cylinder. The solutions of the equations of motion are presented in both dimensionless form and as a family of curves for different pipe/borehole eccentricity ratios and power-law fluid index values for a more general application. The expected error in surge computation for concentric annulus as a result of eccentricity is evaluated.