Numerical analysis of flow characteristics in microchannels

Experimental data and numerical simulation were combined to investigate the flow characteristics of compressible flow through microchannels. An improved surface roughness viscosity model can simulate the effect of surface roughness on the microchannel flow characteristics more effectively. The results indicate that surface roughness is an important factor affecting the flow characteristics of gas flow through microchannels. A numerical investigation of flow in an expansion channel shows that the calculating results by the laminar flow model with consideration of surface roughness agree with the experimental data for Re<450. A model incorporating early transition and surface roughness is in good agreement with the experimental data for Re>450 with turbulent flow.