Experimental research of gas flows through isothermal and non-isothermal membranes

Abstract

In specialized test bench and in vacuum aerodynamic facilities VAT-2M TsAGI three types of a gas flows with observed kinetic effects were researched. Firstly, the flow through the membrane with uniform temperature was investigated. The dependence of flow rate through membranes on pressure drop across it was measured at various values of permeability. The experimental data at various flow regimes in the pores were compared with numerical data. The comparison gives the opportunity to associate the model perforated membrane with definite diameter of perforation channels and with definite permeability to each porous membrane with intricate pores. Flow rate through real and model membranes are the same ones for two limit regimes: the free-molecular regime and the Stokes ones. For experimental research of a gas flows induced by temperature difference across membrane the method of creation such temperature difference (uniform on membrane surface) was used. In this method thermoelectric effect is utilized. The dependence of thermo-transpiration flow rate and thermo-molecular pressure difference across non-isothermal membrane (for zero flow rate) on gas pressure were measured. The comparison of results of direct and indirect measurements of the velocity of thermo-transpiration was carried out. In the second case the flow rate of thermal transpiration was calculated by the experimental results on thermo-molecular pressure difference across non-isothermal membrane and the results of measurement of pressure driven flow through isothermal membrane.