Rarefied gas flow in a channel with specular-diffuse boundary conditions for arbitrary Knudsen numbers. Onsager relations

Abstract

The problem of a rarefied gas flow in a channel for arbitrary Knudsen numbers has been solved analytically for the first time in the case where the scattering of gas molecules on the channel walls can be described by specular‐diffuse boundary conditions. The mean free path of gas molecules is assumed to be constant, i.e., the collision frequency is proportional to molecular velocity. The gas moves under the action of a streamwise temperature gradient. Exact relations for heat and mass fluxes and for mean‐mass velocity are obtained. It is shown that the Onsager relations are valid within the entire range of Knudsen numbers in the problem of heat and mass transfer in a channel. The dependence of heat and mass fluxes on the Knudsen number (channel thickness) is analyzed. A comparison with available results is performed.