Abstract
Laminar flow of a compressible Newtonian fluid in a channel is analyzed. An analytic solution to the vorticity-stream function form of the hydrodynamics equations is found for weakly compressible flow using a regular perturbation method. In contrast with previous studies, the present analysis does not invoke the lubrication approximation and, consequently, predicts both a nonzero transverse velocity and a nonzero transverse pressure gradient. Predicted velocity and pressure fields from the perturbation solution are compared with previously published analytical and numerical solutions. Expressions for pressure drop are also given for compressible laminar flow in a channel that display significant deviations from the incompressible case. In addition, experimental data from the literature for the flow of gases in microchannels are analyzed and compared with predictions from the analytical solution. We find that a commonly used method for analyzing microchannel flow experiments obscures a rather simple dependence of pressure drop on the same dimensionless parameter used in the perturbation solution.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 029003PHF |
Pages (from-to) | 1-11 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Physics of Fluids |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2010 |
Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Computational Mechanics
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering
- Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes