Non Newtonian Fluid Flow in Paint Dispensing Circuits

This paper reports upon a series of studies carried out to characterize the behaviour of fluids in paint dispensing circuits. The non-newtonian character of the fluid, the low values of working pressure and flow rate encountered made, and especially the peculiarity of the application, made the estimation of pressure losses in the circuit and evaluation of the flow field inside the valve particularly critical. Attention is focused particularly on the aspects related to simulation by FE of the flow field inside the valve and qualification of the non-newtonian rhelogic characteristic of the fluids