Abstract
Numerical study of water jet impact on a pool of high-temperature metallic melt is carried out. Experimental studies in this field encounter difficulties in visualizing the flow and performing measurements in hot and opaque medium, while theoretical studies by multifluid models have severe limitations in describing the flow structure and interphase processes. VOF method allows one to alleviate many limitations, as well as reproduce the flow details that are hardly amenable to direct experimental measurements. The work is focused on the validation of VOF predictions against small-scale experimental data on water jet interaction with molten lead–bismuth eutectic alloy; also, features of the vapor-water cavity formation and evolution in the pool are analyzed. Simulations are performed by a solver developed in OpenFOAM software. Results are presented for three-dimensional simulations of subcooled water jet interaction with LBE melt in a vessel, which has a 10-mm thick slice configuration with semi-circular bottom. Validation is performed against two tests by Sibamoto et al, for a water jet impacting the melt at the velocity of 4.7 and 6.2 m/s. Cross-verification with two multi-fluid codes is performed. Reasonable agreement with respect to cavity geometry and evolution stages is demonstrated, further research directions are discussed. Results obtained are relevant to nuclear safety problems for advanced lead-cooled fast reactors.
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