Dsmc simulation for constant-wall-temperature heat transfer in a short parallel plate microchannel

The heat transfer characteristics of low speed gas flows through a short parallel plate microchannel (L/D-h=6) are examined using the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. Computations were carried out for nitrogen, argon, and helium gas. Micro pressure driven flows are simulated with the inlet value of the Knudsen numbers ranging from 0.09 to 0.2. The effects of varying wall temperature, pressure, inlet flow and gas transport properties on the wall heat transfer and velocity distribution were examined. Heat transfer from the channel was also calculated and compared with those of previous studies. Molecular diffusion dominates over both slip and transition flow regimes. Finally, the averaged Nusselt number ((Nu) over bar) was correlated in a simple form of the averaged Peclet number ((Pe) over bar) and Knudsen number ((Ke) over bar) in the transition flow regime.