Numerical Investigation of Heat Transfer in Rough Microchannels Using a Kinetic Continuum Solver

Abstract

A numerical analysis of flow and heat transfer fields in a rough microchannel is carried out using a hybrid solver dynamically coupling kinetic and Navier–Stokes solutions computed in local rarefied and continuum areas of the flow, respectively. The roughness geometry is modeled as a series of triangular obstructions and a relative roughness up to 5% of the channel height is considered. Keeping Mach number low (incompressible flow) while varying Knudsen number allow us to investigate different rarefaction levels of the flow. The competition between roughness, rarefaction and heat transfer effects is discussed in terms of averaged Nusselt and Poiseuille numbers and mass flow rate. Discrepancy between the full Navier–Stokes and hybrid solutions is investigated, assessing the range of applicability of the first order slip boundary condition for rough geometries with and without heat transfer presence.