Transport phenomena in rotating rarefied gases

The mass, heat, and momentum transfer through a rarefied gas confined betwe en two coaxial rotating cylinders is studied. The evaporation and condensat ion of the gas on the cylinder surfaces is assumed. The state of equilibriu m is perturbed by small deviations of pressure, temperature, and angular ve locity on the inner cylinder. The S model of the Boltzmann equation has bee n solved numerically by the discrete velocity method. The fields of the pre ssure, temperature, velocity, heat flux vector, and shear stress are calcul ated in the wide range of the Knudsen number. Further, the Onsager reciproc ity relations between the cross effects are verified. (C) 2001 American Ins titute of Physics.