Moment model and boundary conditions for energy transport in the phonon gas

Abstract

Heat transfer in solids is modeled in the framework of kinetic theory of the phonon gas. The microscopic description of the phonon gas relies on the phonon Boltzmann equation and the Callaway model for phonon–phonon interaction. A simple model for phonon interaction with crystal boundaries, similar to the Maxwell boundary conditions in classical kinetic theory, is proposed. Macroscopic transport equation for an arbitrary set of moments is developed and closed by means of Grad’s moment method. Boundary conditions for the macroscopic equations are derived from the microscopic model and the Grad closure. As example, sets with 4, 9, 16, and 25 moments are considered and solved analytically for one-dimensional heat transfer and Poiseuille flow of phonons. The results show the influence of Knudsen number on phonon drag at solid boundaries. The appearance of Knudsen layers reduces the net heat conductivity of solids in rarefied phonon regimes.