Non-Newtonian flow in a large mixed-flow pump

This paper deals with a 3D time-marching incompressible Navier-Stokes solve r using the pseudo-compressibility technique to study the non-Newtonian flo w field through mixed-flow water pump impeller. The applicability of the or iginal code has been validated by comparison with Goto's experimental and c omputational results. Two non-Newtonian models based on Power-law and Casso n's relations were further included in the current code to predict the bloo d flow through the same pump The non-Newtonian results are compared with Ne wtonian ones in the laminar flow regime and it is found that the steady flo w characteristics of the two fluids are rather similar. This indicates that the influence of non-Newtonian shear thinning behaviour of blood might not be an important factor in determining the general flow patterns through a conventional large-scale mixed-flow water pump as the shear rates are high. But this will not be true for an actual-sized and viscous-dominant centrif ugal blood pump. Similar conclusion is obtained with a commercial package, Fluent.