Abstract: A numerical method capable is developed for handling steady laminar flow and heat trans-fer of a highly viscous power-law fluid whose density,viscosity,specific heat and thermalconductivity,vary with temperature.The governing equations are found to be continuity,monmentumand energy expressions.Important effects such as varying viscosity,natural convection and viscousdissipation are incorporated in the theoretical model.These equations are being attracted by employing a decoupled finite element method.Galerkin’sprinciple is used to handle the momentum and continuity equations.Consistent(SU/PG)andnon-consistent(SU)streamline upwind methods are employed for the energy equation.Comparisonof calculated results and experimental data shows good agreement.Similar results are obtained withSU and SU/PG methods.Velocity and temperature profiles which provide insights into the processare also given.

Key words: non-Newtonian fluids, vertical tube, finite element method

摘要： A numerical method capable is developed for handling steady laminar flow and heat trans-fer of a highly viscous power-law fluid whose density,viscosity,specific heat and thermalconductivity,vary with temperature.The governing equations are found to be continuity,monmentumand energy expressions.Important effects such as varying viscosity,natural convection and viscousdissipation are incorporated in the theoretical model.These equations are being attracted by employing a decoupled finite element method.Galerkin’sprinciple is used to handle the momentum and continuity equations.Consistent(SU/PG)andnon-consistent(SU)streamline upwind methods are employed for the energy equation.Comparisonof calculated results and experimental data shows good agreement.Similar results are obtained withSU and SU/PG methods.Velocity and temperature profiles which provide insights into the processare also given.

关键词: non-Newtonian fluids;vertical tube;finite element method