An analytical approach to the unified solution of kinetic equations in rarefied gas dynamics. III. Evaporation and condensation problems

An analytical version of the discrete-ordinates method, the ADO method, is used here to solve two problems in the rarefied gas dynamics field, that describe evaporation/condensation between two parallel interfaces and the case of a semi-infinite medium. The modeling of the problems is based on a general expression which may represent four different kinetic models, derived from the linearized Boltzmann equation. This work is an extension of two other previous works, devoted to rarefied gas flow and heat transfer problems, where the complete development of the ADO solution, which is analytical in terms of the spatial variable, is presented in a way, such that, the four kinetic models are considered, in an unified approach. A series of numerical results are showed in order to establish a general comparative analysis between this consistent set of results provided by the same methodology, based on kinetic models, and results obtained from the linearized Boltzmann equation. In particular, the temperature and density jumps are evaluated.     

The linearized Boltzmann equation: Sound-wave propagation in a rarefied gas

An analytical version of the discrete-ordinates method (the ADO method) is used to establish concise and particularly accurate solutions to the problem of sound-wave propagation in a rarefied gas. The analysis and the numerical work are based on a rigorous form of the linearized Boltzmann equation (for rigid-sphere interactions), and in contrast to many other works formulated (for an infinite medium) without a boundary condition, the solution reported here satisfies a boundary condition that models a diffusely-reflecting vibrating plate. In addition and in order to investigate the effect of kinetic models, solutions are developed for the BGK model, the S model, the Gross-Jackson model, as well as for the (newly defined) MRS model and the CES model. While the developed numerical results are compared to available experimental data, emphasis in this work is placed on the solutions of the problem of sound-wave propagation as described by the linearized Boltzmann equation and the five considered kinetic models. Received: November 22, 2004; revised: February 24, 2005     

An analytical approach to the unified solution of kinetic equations in rarefied gas dynamics. I. Flow problems

The ADO method, an analytical version of the discrete-ordinates method, is used to solve several classical problems in the rarefied gas dynamics field. The complete development of the solution, which is analytical in terms of the spatial variable, is presented in a way, such that, a wide class of kinetic models are considered, in an unified approach. A series of numerical results are showed and different simulations are used in order to establish a general comparative analysis based on this consistent set of results provided by the same methodology.     

An analytical approach to the unified solution of kinetic equations in rarefied gas dynamics. I. Flow problems

The ADO method, an analytical version of the discrete-ordinates method, is used to solve several classical problems in the rarefied gas dynamics field. The complete development of the solution, which is analytical in terms of the spatial variable, is presented in a way, such that, a wide class of kinetic models are considered, in an unified approach. A series of numerical results are showed and different simulations are used in order to establish a general comparative analysis based on this consistent set of results provided by the same methodology. Received: July 10, 2007; revised: October 29/December 4, 2007     

Models of a linearized Boltzmann collision integral

For rarefied gas flows at moderate and low Knudsen numbers, model equations are derived that approximate the Boltzmann equation with a linearized collision integral. The new kinetic models generalize and refine the S-model kinetic equation.     

Kinetic model of the Boltzmann equation for a power-law intermolecular interaction potential

A model kinetic equation approximating the Boltzmann equation with a linearized collision integral is constructed to describe rarefied gas flows at moderate and low Knudsen numbers. The kinetic model describes gas flows with a power-law intermolecular interaction potential and involves five relaxation parameters. The structure of a shock wave is computed, and the results are compared with an experiment for argon.     

An analytical approach to the unified solution of kinetic equations in the rarefied gas dynamics. II. Heat transfer problems

The ADO method, an analytical version of the discrete-ordinates method, is used here to solve a heat-transfer problem in a rarefied gas confined in a channel, as well as to solve a half-space problem in order to evaluate the temperature jump at the wall. This work is an extension of a previous work, devoted to flow problems, where the complete development of the solution, which is analytical in terms of the spatial variable, is presented in a way, such that, a wide class of kinetic models are considered, in an unified approach. A series of numerical results are showed and different simulations are used in order to establish a general comparative analysis based on this consistent set of results provided by the same methodology. In particular, numerical results for heat-flow profile, temperature and density perturbations are obtained for channels (walls), defined by different materials, on which different temperatures are imposed.     

An analytical approach to the unified solution of kinetic equations in the rarefied gas dynamics. II. Heat transfer problems

The ADO method, an analytical version of the discrete-ordinates method, is used here to solve a heat-transfer problem in a rarefied gas confined in a channel, as well as to solve a half-space problem in order to evaluate the temperature jump at the wall. This work is an extension of a previous work, devoted to flow problems, where the complete development of the solution, which is analytical in terms of the spatial variable, is presented in a way, such that, a wide class of kinetic models are considered, in an unified approach. A series of numerical results are showed and different simulations are used in order to establish a general comparative analysis based on this consistent set of results provided by the same methodology. In particular, numerical results for heat-flow profile, temperature and density perturbations are obtained for channels (walls), defined by different materials, on which different temperatures are imposed.     

Thermal transpiration for the linearized Boltzmann equation

The phenomena of thermal transpiration due to the boundary temperature gradient is studied on the level of the linearized Boltzmann equation for the hard‐sphere model. We construct such a flow for a highly rarefied gas between two plates and also in a circular pipe. It is shown that the flow velocity parallel to the plates is proportional to the boundary temperature gradient. For a highly rarefied gas, that is, for a sufficiently large Knudsen number κ, the flow velocity between two plates is of the order of log κ, and the flow velocity in a pipe is of finite order. Our analysis is based on certain pointwise estimates of the solutions of the linearized Boltzmann equation. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Numerical modelling of rarefied gas flow through a slit at arbitrary pressure ratio based on the kinetic equation

A rarefied gas flow through a thin slit at an arbitrary gas pressure ratio is calculated on the basis of the kinetic model equations (BGK and S-model) applying the discrete velocity method. The calculations are carried out for the whole range of the gas rarefaction from the free-molecular regime to the hydrodynamic one. Numerical data on the flow rate and distributions of density, bulk velocity and temperature are reported. Comparisons of the present results with those based on the direct simulation Monte Carlo method and on the linearized BGK kinetic equation are performed. The conditions of applicability of the linearized theory are discussed.     

Nonlinear nonequilibrium kinetic model of the boltzmann equation for monatomic gases

A model kinetic equation approximating the Boltzmann equation in a wide range of nonequilibrium gas states was constructed to describe rarefied gas flows. The kinetic model was based on a distribution function depending on the absolute velocity of the gas particles. Highly efficient in numerical computations, the model kinetic equation was used to compute a shock wave structure. The numerical results were compared with experimental data for argon.     

Numerical analysis of oscillatory Couette flow of a rarefied gas on the basis of the linearized Boltzmann equation for a hard sphere molecular gas

The time-dependent motion of a rarefied gas between two parallel planes caused by an oscillatory motion of the plane is studied based on the linearized Boltzmann equation for a hard sphere molecular gas. With the aid of a deterministic numerical method, an accurate numerical analysis is carried out for a wide range of gas rarfaction and oscillatory frequency. The detailed data of the shear stress acting on the planes is provided in a complete form for a wide range of the parameters. The transition of the solution from low to high frequencies under various degrees of gas rarfaction is discussed.     

Numerical analysis of oscillatory Couette flow of a rarefied gas on the basis of the linearized Boltzmann equation for a hard sphere molecular gas

The time-dependent motion of a rarefied gas between two parallel planes caused by an oscillatory motion of the plane is studied based on the linearized Boltzmann equation for a hard sphere molecular gas. With the aid of a deterministic numerical method, an accurate numerical analysis is carried out for a wide range of gas rarfaction and oscillatory frequency. The detailed data of the shear stress acting on the planes is provided in a complete form for a wide range of the parameters. The transition of the solution from low to high frequencies under various degrees of gas rarfaction is discussed.     

The Kramers problem: Velocity slip and defect for a hard sphere gas with arbitrary accommodation

The half-space problem of rarefied gas flow (the Kramers problem) is considered for the linearized Boltzmann equation and arbitrary gas-surface interaction. Accurate numerical results for the velocity slip coefficient and velocity defect are obtained for the rigid sphere interaction and Maxwellian boundary condition.     

A comparative analysis of approaches for investigating hypersonic flow over blunt bodies in a transitional regime

Hypersonic flows of a viscous perfect rarefied gas over blunt bodies in a transitional flow regime from continuum to free molecular, characteristic when spacecraft re-enter Earth's atmosphere at altitudes above 90-100 km, are considered. The two-dimensional problem of hypersonic flow is investigated over a wide range of free stream Knudsen numbers using both continuum and kinetic approaches: by numerical and analytical solutions of the continuum equations, by numerical solution of the Boltzmann kinetic equation with a model collision integral in the form of the S-model, and also by the direct simulation Monte Carlo method. The continuum approach is based on the use of asymptotically correct models of a thin viscous shock layer and a viscous shock layer. A refinement of the condition for a temperature jump on the body surface is proposed for the viscous shock layer model. The continuum and kinetic solutions, and also the solutions obtained by the Monte Carlo method are compared. The effectiveness, range of application, advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches are estimated.     

A discontinuous finite element solution of the Boltzmann kinetic equation in collisionless and BGK forms for macroscopic gas flows

In this paper, an alternative approach to the traditional continuum analysis of flow problems is presented. The traditional methods, that have been popular with the CFD community in recent times, include potential flow, Euler and Navier–Stokes solvers. The method presented here involves solving the governing equation of the molecular gas dynamics that underlies the macroscopic behaviour described by the macroscopic governing equations. The equation solved is the Boltzmann kinetic equation in its simplified collisionless and BGK forms. The algorithm used is a discontinuous Taylor–Galerkin type and it is applied to the 2D problems of a highly rarefied gas expanding into a vacuum, flow over a vertical plate, rarefied hypersonic flow over a double ellipse, and subsonic and transonic flow over an aerofoil. The benefit of this type of solver is that it is not restricted to continuum regime (low Knudsen number) problems. However, it is a computationally expensive technique.     

Numerical study of radiometric forces via the direct solution of the Boltzmann kinetic equation

The two-dimensional rarefied gas motion in a Crookes radiometer and the resulting radiometric forces are studied by numerically solving the Boltzmann kinetic equation. The collision integral is directly evaluated using a projection method, and second-order accurate TVD schemes are used to solve the advection equation. The radiometric forces are found as functions of the Knudsen number and the temperatures, and their spatial distribution is analyzed.     

Simulation of rarefied gas flows on the basis of the Boltzmann kinetic equation solved by applying a conservative projection method

Flows of a simple rarefied gas and gas mixtures are computed on the basis of the Boltzmann kinetic equation, which is solved by applying various versions of the conservative projection method, namely, a two-point method for a simple gas and gas mixtures with a small difference between the molecular masses and a multipoint method in the case of a large mass difference. Examples of steady and unsteady flows are computed in a wide range of Mach and Knudsen numbers.     

Heat transfer in a gas mixture between parallel plates

The one-dimensional steady-state heat flux and the temperature distribution in a rarefied gas mixture between two parallel plates with different temperatures are studied using the kinetic theory. The Boltzmann equation is solved by the projection method assuming that the gas consists of elastic hard spheres and the reflection from the surfaces is diffuse. The flow features are analyzed for a wide range of the Knudsen number. The molecular numerical densities of the components, the total temperature of the mixture, and the mixture heat flux are obtained. The behavior of the distribution functions for the components is discussed. A comparison with other authors’ results shows that the accuracy of the given method is good.     

Numerical study of the radiometric phenomenon exhibited by a rotating Crookes radiometer

The two-dimensional rarefied gas flow around a rotating Crookes radiometer and the arising radiometric forces are studied by numerically solving the Boltzmann kinetic equation. The computations are performed in a noninertial frame of reference rotating together with the radiometer. The collision integral is directly evaluated using a projection method, while second- and third-order accurate TVD schemes are used to solve the advection equation and the equation for inertia-induced transport in the velocity space, respectively. The radiometric forces are found as functions of the rotation frequency.