Effect of Physical Properties on Gas Entrainment Rate From Free Surface by Vortex (2nd Report)

Abstract

A sodium-cooled fast breeder reactor is now at the developing stage in Japan. One concern for safety is cover gas entrainment into the sodium coolant. The gas entrainment rate into liquid by the vortex formed on the free surface was examined experimentally. Four kinds of test fluid were used; water at 25 °C, water at 60 °C, 20 cSt silicone oil and kerosene. Gas was air. The flow state of gas entrainment was visually observed by using a high speed video camera. The gas entrainment rate into liquid was measured. Following conclusions were obtained. When exit velocity was low, bubble-type gas entrainment occurred. As the exit velocity increased, the gas entrainment type turned from the bubble type to a vortex type and gas entrainment rate considerably increased. The relation between gas entrainment rate and liquid velocity was mainly affected by the viscosity of liquid. As viscosity became large, higher exit velocity was required to get the same gas entrainment rate. The effect of surface tension on the gas entertainment rate was minor or little. No systematic trend by the surface tension was noticed in the gas entrainment rate. Present results of the onset of the bubble type gas entrainment are well expressed with both the modified Baum and the modified Takahashi et al. correlation although the modified Takahashi et al. correlation provides a little better prediction than the modified Baum correlation. A flow state at the outlet piping has significant effect on the gas entrainment rate. The dimension of the outlet piping may become important to consider the gas entrainment rate in the vortex type region.