Effects of slip and rheological parameters on the flow and heat transfer of a Herschel-Bulkley fluid

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the combined effects of slip and rheological parameters on the flow and heat transfer of the Herschel-Bulkley fluid. Design/methodology/approach The combinative dimensionless parameter method is introduced into the equations of the slip flow and heat transfer to make the discussion more comprehensive. More specifically, the slip and rheological parameters are transformed into the dimensionless slip number as well as Herschel-Bulkley number. We solve the dimensionless equations and then focus on the effects of these parameters on the slip flow and heat transfer. Findings The results show that, for a given value of Herschel-Bulkley number, there is a finite critical value of slip number at which the pressure gradient reaches the lowest value and both the dimensionless yield radius and slip velocity become 1. Meanwhile, the Nusselt number tends to be infinite at this critical value of slip number. For the case of slip, the Nusselt number also approaches infinity at a finite critical value of Herschel-Bulkley number. Furthermore, the dimensionless velocity as well as temperature of the yield pseudoplastic fluid with higher slip number is lower within a small radius but becomes higher near the wall. Meanwhile, from the velocity and temperature profiles, the effect of Herschel-Bulkley number on these two parameters of the Bingham fluid at the smaller radius is opposite. Originality/value These associated expressions can be generalized to the flow and heat transfer of a Herschel-Bulkley fluid under slip boundary condition. It can provide a reference for the engineering application relating to the heat transfer and flow of a Herschel-Bulkley fluid. Meanwhile, it also suggests some revelations for dealing with this similar problem.