One-way flow of a rarefied gas induced in a channel with a periodic temperature distribution

Abstract

A rarefied gas in a channel of two parallel plane walls with a spatially periodic steady temperature distribution, on which a series of ditches is dug periodically, is considered, and the behavior of a flow induced by the temperature variation on the walls is investigated numerically for various Knudsen numbers and ditch sizes by the standard direct simulation Monte Carlo method (Bird’s method). It is found that a steady one-way flow is induced through the channel without any pressure gradient being applied externally. The pumping effect owing to the one-way flow is discussed.