Flow and evaporation in single micrometer and nanometer scale pipes
Abstract
We report measurements of pressure driven flow of fluids entering vacuum through a single pipe of micrometer or nanometer scale diameter. Nanopores were fabricated by etching a single ion track in polymer or mica foils. A calibrated mass spectrometer was used to measure the flow rates of nitrogen and helium through pipes with diameter ranging from 10 μm to 31 nm. The flow of gaseous and liquid nitrogen was studied near 77 K, while the flow of helium was studied from the lambda point (2.18 K) to above the critical point (5.2 K). Flow rates were controlled by changing the pressure drop across the pipe in the range 0–31 atm. When the pressure in the pipe reached the saturated vapor pressure, an abrupt flow transition was observed. A simple viscous flow model is used to determine the position of the liquid/vapor interface in the pipe. The observed mass flow rates are consistent with no slip boundary conditions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jul 21, 2014
- Source ID
- 10.1063/1.4890985
Entities
People
- A. E. Velasco
- Changyi Yang
- M. E. Toimil-molares
- P. Taborek
- Z. S. Siwy
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research
- National Science Foundation
- University of California