Experimental and numerical study on the length of LZVV in the bubble separator for molten salt reactor

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and design 2023-01, Vol.401, p.112100, Article 112100
• Main Authors: Zeng, Xiaobo, Fan, Guangming, Wang, Meng, Zhao, Le, Yan, Changqi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bubble separator; Experimental study; Numerical study; the Locus of Zero Vertical Velocity
• ISSN: 0029-5493; 1872-759X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2022.112100

•A new measuring method for the length of LZVV is introduced.•A numerical approach for simulating the separator is developed.•The effect of flowrate and split ratio on the length of LZVV is investigated.•Larger LPO ratio leads to a longer LZVV. The bubble separator using centrifugal technology is the key device to remove the fission gas from the molten salt in the molten salt reactor. The Locus of Zero Vertical Velocity (LZVV) is an important characteristic of swirling flow. In this paper, a new measuring method is introduced to obtain the length of the LZVV of the bubble separator by tracking the droplet trajectories and analyzing the particular droplets’ location at the single-phase condition. The effects of the flowrate, split ratio and the flowrate distribution of the two Light Phase Outlets (defined as LPO ratio) on the length of LZVV are studied. Moreover, numerical simulation at single-phase condition is carried out using the Reynolds stress model and it shows a good agreement with the experimental result. The experimental and numerical results show that the velocity distribution does not change with the flowrate and the larger split ratio leads to a longer length of LZVV and stronger swirl strength.