Laminar　forced　convection　nanofluids　based　non-Newtonian　flow　in　a　horizontal　parallel　channel　with　multiple　regions　of　heating　and　cooling　are　investigated,　taking　into　account　the　inhomogeneous　distribution　of　nanoparticles.　The　non-Newtonian　behaviour　of　nanofluids　is　described　by　the　power-law　model.　The　velocity,　temperature　and　concentration　fields,　heat　transfer　coefficient　ratio,　and　pressure　drop　are　obtained　numerically　by　solving　the　coupled　momentum,　energy　and　concentration　equations.　Results　based　on　assumption　of　homogeneous　and　inhomogeneous　distribution　of　nanoparticles　are　compared　with　each　other.　It　is　found　that　the　detailed　information　of　velocity,　temperature　and　pressure　drop　obtained　by　these　two　opposite　assumptions　are　largely　different.　The　non-uniform　distribution　of　nanoparticles　has　a　much　weaker　influence　on　temperatures　compared　to　the　uniform　distribution;　and　the　non-uniform　distribution　of　nanoparticles　in　the　base　fluid　results　in　a　smaller　pressure　drop　than　the　uniform　cases　do.　The　above　findings　highlight　the　necessity　and　significance　of　studying　the　effects　of　nanoparticles＇　sedimentation　and　precipitation　on　heat　and　mass　transfer　for　related　industrial　applications.　And　the　thermal　performance　of　power-law　nanofluids　investigated　in　this　paper　may　shed　some　light　on　more　efficient　design　of　heat　exchangers.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.