Knudsen Number formula |
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\( Kn \;=\; \dfrac{ \lambda }{ l }\) (Knudsen Number) \( \lambda \;=\; Kn \cdot l \) \( l \;=\; \dfrac{ \lambda }{ Kn }\) |
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Symbol | English | Metric |
\( Kn \) = Knudsen Number | \(dimensionless\) | \( dimensionless \) |
\( \lambda \) (Greek symbol lambda) = Mean Free Path | \(in\) | \(mm\) |
\( l \) = Length | \(in\) | \(mm\) |
Knudsen number, abbreviated as Kn, a dimensionless number, is used in fluid dynamics to describe the relative importance of molecular mean free path to a characteristic length scale in a gas flow. It's particularly useful for assessing the behavior of gases in rarefied or low pressure conditions, where the continuum assumption breaks down, and the individual gas molecules become important.
Knudsen Number Interpretation
The Knudsen number is particularly relevant in fields such as rarefied gas dynamics, microfluidics, and vacuum technology, where gas behavior deviates significantly from the idealized continuous flow assumptions of traditional fluid dynamics. Understanding the Knudsen number helps engineers and scientists determine the appropriate modeling and analysis techniques for their specific gas flow problems.