Radiometric flow in periodically patterned channels: fluid physics and improved configurations

Abstract

With the aid of direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC), we conduct a detailed investigation pertaining to the fluid and thermal characteristics of rarefied gas flow with regard to various arrangements for radiometric pumps featuring vane and ratchet structures. For the same, we consider three categories of radiometric pumps consisting of channels with their bottom or top surfaces periodically patterned with different structures. The structures in the design of the first category are assumed to be on the bottom wall and consist of either a simple vane, a right-angled triangular fin or an isosceles triangular fin. The arrangements on the second category of radiometric pumps consist of an alternating diffuse–specular right-angled fin and an alternating diffuse–specular isosceles fin on the bottom wall. The third category contains either a channel with double isosceles triangular fins on its lowermost surface or a zigzag channel with double isosceles triangular fins on both walls. In the first and the third categories, the surfaces of the channel and its structures are considered as diffuse reflectors. The temperature is kept steady on the horizontal walls of the channel; thus, radiometric flow is created by subjecting the adjacent sides of the vane/ratchet to constant but unequal temperatures. On the other hand, for the second category, radiometric flow is introduced by specifying different top/bottom channel wall temperatures. The DSMC simulations are performed at a Knudsen number based on the vane/ratchet height of approximately one. The dominant mechanism in the radiometric force production is clarified for the examined configurations. Our results demonstrate that, at the investigated Knudsen number, the zigzag channel experiences maximum induced velocity with a parabolic velocity profile, whereas its net radiometric force vanishes. In the case of all other configurations, the flow pattern resembles a Couette flow in the open section of the channel situated above the vane/ratchet. To further enhance the simulations, the predictions of the finite volume discretization of the Boltzmann Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook (BGK)–Shakhov equation for the mass flux dependence on temperature difference and Knudsen number are also reported for typical test cases.