Numerical modeling of the separation of a binary gas mixture with similar molecular weights in a thermal micropump based on the radiometric effect is carried out. The simulation method is based on the direct solution of the Boltzmann kinetic equation using a splitting scheme. Relaxation problems are solved using a conservative projection method. Transport equations are solved using first- and second-order schemes. A design of an installation that can be used for separating mixtures of similar masses is proposed. Based on the modeling, an assessment of the efficiency of this device is performed.
Ya.M. Zhikharev (Wed,) studied this question.