Microchannel Gas Flow in the Multi-Flow Regime Based on the Lattice Boltzmann Method

Abstract

In this work, a lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) for studying microchannel gas flow is developed in the multi-flow regime. In the LBM, by comparing previous studies’ results on effective viscosity in multi-flow regimes, the values of the rarefaction factor applicable to multi-flow regions were determined, and the relationship between relaxation time and Kn number with the rarefaction factor is given. The Kn number is introduced into the second-order slip boundary condition together with the combined bounce-back/specular-reflection (CBBSR) scheme to capture the gas flow in the multi-flow regime. Sensitivity analysis of the dimensionless flow rate to adjustable parameters using the Taguchi method was carried out, and the values of adjustable parameters were determined based on the results of the sensitivity analysis. The results show that the dimensionless flow rate is more sensitive to j than h. Numerical simulations of Poiseuille flow and pulsating flow in a microchannel with second-order slip boundary conditions are carried out to validate the method. The results show that the velocity profile and dimensionless flow rate simulated by the present numerical simulation method in this work are found in the multi-flow regime, and the phenomenon of annular velocity profile in the microchannel is reflected in the phases.