Numerical design of a Knudsen pump with curved channels operating in the slip flow regime

Abstract

A numerical procedure has been developed for modeling 2D thermal creep flows with Fluent®. Complete first order velocity slip, including thermal creep and walls curvature effects, as well as temperature jump, boundary conditions, are implemented via C routines. After validation on benchmark flows, the technique is used for designing a Knudsen pump with curved microchannels and it is demonstrated that this micropump can be efficient in the slip flow regime.