Numerical Simulation of Platinum Group Metal Particles Behavior in a Joule-Heated Glass Melter

Abstract

For a joule-heated glass melter, we have developed a numerical simulation scheme, which couples electric field, thermal fluid dynamics and platinum group metal particles behavior. Glass properties, especially the viscosity and electrical conductivity, widely change due to the platinum group metals included in high-level liquid waste. It is necessary to estimate the distribution of the platinum group metals in the glass, because operational conditions of the melter are strongly affected by them. In this study, the platinum group metals behavior was treated as the transport of the particle concentration by the Eulerian method in order to reduce the computational loading. Databases of glass properties with the platinum group metals were obtained by measurements of glass samples. Numerical simulation of 18 batch cycles showed that the platinum group metals not only were transported by the glass flow but also settled down and deposited on the bottom walls of the melter. Additionally, the electric current intensively converged along the bottom walls due to the increase of the electrical conductivity in the deposited layer of the platinum group metals. Numerical results agreed reasonably well with experimental data. It has been clarified that this numerical method is useful for the design and operation.