Rotating Cylinder Apparatus for Rarefied Gas Flow Studies

Abstract

A rotating cylinder type apparatus is described, suitable for determining drag in cylindrical Couette flow of rarefied gases, and for evaluating tangential momentum accommodation coefficients at gas‐solid boundaries. The apparatus is equipped with a damping device using diffusion pump oil for eliminating undesirable oscillations in the system. Tangential momentum accommodation coefficients of argon on aluminum were determined with an accuracy of ±2.5%. The results obtained indicate that the apparatus may be used over a wide pressure range, corresponding to free molecule and continuum flow conditions.