THERMOPHORESIS OF A SPHERICAL-PARTICLE IN A RAREFIED-GAS - NUMERICAL-ANALYSIS BASED ON THE MODEL KINETIC-EQUATIONS

A kinetic theory for the thermophoretic force and velocity of a spherical particle in a rarefied gas is presented. The analysis is carried out on the basis of the linearized Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook (BGK) and S model [Fluid Dyn. 3, 95 (1968)] kinetic equations. The integral-moment method of solution for arbitrary values of Knudsen number is employed. The set of integral moment equations was solved by the Bubnov-Galerkin method. The possibility of arbitrary energy and tangential momentum accommodation of gas molecules on the particle surface is taken into account in the boundary condition. The particle-gas heat conductivity ratio Lambda is assumed to be arbitrary. The results obtained are compared to the available theoretical and experimental data. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.