ePubs

The open archive for STFC research publications

Full Record Details

Persistent URL http://purl.org/net/epubs/work/34722
Record Status Checked
Record Id 34722
Title The influence of Knudsen number on the hydrodynamic development length within parallel plate micro-channels
Contributors
Abstract One of the major difficulties in predicting the flow of gases through micron-sized channels can be attributed to the breakdown of the continuum flow assumption in the Navier-Stokes equations. If the dimensions of a channel are comparable to the mean free path of the gas molecules, the fluid can no longer be regarded as being in thermodynamic equilibrium and a variety of non-continuum or rarefaction effects will occur. Velocity profiles, mass flow rates and boundary wall shear stresses are all influenced by the non-continuum regime. In addition, the length of the hydrodynamic development region at the entrance to a channel may also be affected. The present study examines the role of the Reynolds and Knudsen numbers on the hydrodynamic development length at the entrance to parallel plate microchannels. Numerical simulations are carried out over a range of Knudsen numbers covering the continuum and slip-flow regimes (0 less than or equal to Kn less than or equal to 0.1). The results demonstrate that at the upper limit of the slip-flow regime (Kn approximately 0.1), the entrance development region is almost 25% longer than that predicted using continuum flow theory.
Organisation CCLRC , CSE , CSE-CEG
Keywords flow , fluid mechanics
Funding Information
Related Research Object(s):
Licence Information:
Language English (EN)
Type Details URI(s) Local file(s) Year
Paper In Conference Proceedings In 4th International on Advances in Fluid Mechanics, Ghent, Belgium, May 2002, (2002): 207-216. 2002