Investigation of sodium mist trapping efficiency in mesh-packed trap.

Abstract

An analysis is made on the trapping efficiency of a sodium mist trap brought by change in the mist particle size distribution. The trapping efficiency is represented in terms of the rate of mist adhesion onto the mesh wires. A log-normal distribution function is assumed for the particle size distribution in the mist at trap inlet. The analytical results yield the following conclusions: 1. The trapping efficiency is greatly influenced by [dbar]p , the mean particle diameter of the mist, and reduces to a minimum in the region of [dbar]p =1–10 μnm, for a trap packed with mesh of diameter currently practiced (−0.1 mm). Compared with [dbar]p , change in the standard deviation of particle size distribution exerts a much smaller influence on the trapping efficiency. 2. The efficiency also depends on the flow rate of the mist through trap, represented by the Reynolds number Re expressed in reference to the wire diameter. With the trap configuration and other factors adopted in the analysis, lowering Re to 0.01, i...