Data on heat transfer coefficients associated with heat transfer in canned particulates in high viscosity Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids were used for developing dimensionless correlations. Conventional calculation methods usually pose calculation problems under such conditions and hence apparent h(ap) and U-a were used. In order to accommodate non-Newtonian fluids, generalized Reynolds (GRe) and generalized Prandtl numbers (GPr) were used in the developed correlations. The effects of can size and particle material were accounted by including the ratio of the length of the can to the diameter of the can (L-c/D-c) and the ratio of the particle density to the liquid density (rho(p)/rho(1)). For hap in non-Newtonian fluids, Nusselt number (Nu) was correlated with GRe, GPr, Fronde number (Fr), L-c/D-c, the ratio of particle volume to the can volume (V-p/V-c) and rho(p)/rho(1). For U-a in non-Newtonian fluids, Nu was related to GRe, GPr, Fr, rho(p)/rho(1) and V-p/V-c. For h(ap) in Newtonian fluids, Nu was correlated to Re, Pr, Fr, L-c/D-c and rho(p)/rho(1). For U-a in Newtonian fluids, Nu was correlated to Re, Pr and Fr. Combinations of the rotation radius, the diameter of the can and the particle radius were chosen as the characteristic length for the correlations. The developed equations showed a good agreement with experimental data. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.