Effect of porous structure parameter on the gas flow in the thermal transpiration pump

Raman, Nurulnastashah (2024) Effect of porous structure parameter on the gas flow in the thermal transpiration pump. Project Report. Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

Text (Full text) Effect of porous structure parameter on the gas flow in the thermal transpiration pump.pdf - Submitted Version Download (1MB)

Abstract

he Knudsen Pump (KP) is a form of micro-pump that operates in rarefied gas environments using thermally created flows without using any mechanical parts. Temperature fields cause these flows to occur. It has a number of benefits, such as the absence of moving parts, the ease of production, the simplicity of the design, the possibility to use a variety of energy sources, and the low energy consumption rate. Since the development of Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) throughout the years, several researchers and academics have devoted a significant amount of time and effort to studying KP, and the majority of KP applications have been applied in a variety of contexts. Modifications must be done to be able to compute more precisely by employing simulations and analyses in the present world, where new technologies are evolving swiftly. The impact of porous structural factors on gas flow in the thermal transpiration pump, however, has not been the subject of any thorough research. This study aims to explore how changing the percentage of porous structural parameter impacts gas flow in a thermal transpiration pump. It compares its results to earlier studies that separately analyzed porous media and a narrow channel. In this project, both components are combined into a single sample, featuring varying porosity levels. The porous media is made of polylactic acid (PLA), and the model is created using 3D printing software (SOLIDWORKS). The porous medium channel size that was constructed with 30%, 50%, 70% and 100% where 100% porosity act as reference design. The pressure discrepancies increased with decreasing porosity level. The sample with 30% porosity exhibited the largest difference, closely followed by 50%. In conclusion, the study revealed that the design and porosity of the porous structure in the narrow channel of a thermal transpiration pump impact gas flow and pressure dynamics. Temperature variations and distinct pressure changes with varying porosity highlight porosity's significant role in gas movement.

Actions (login required)

View Item