Proposal of design criteria for gas entrainment from vortex dimples based on a computational fluid dynamics method

Sakai, Takaaki; Eguchi, Yuzuru*; Monji, Hideaki*; Iwasaki, Takashi*; Ito, Kei; Ohshima, Hiroyuki

Design criteria for gas entrainments (GE) from the liquid surface in a fast breeder reactor system were proposed in this paper for the two types of GE phenomena from a vortex dimple based on a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. The first gas entrainment phenomenon is a gas core extension directly to the outlet piping level, which induces large amount of GE to the flow system. The second is continuous bubble detachments from the tip of the vortex dimple. Based on CFD calculations for elemental experiments of the surface vortex, local CFD non-dimensional numbers were defined as the design criteria to prevent GE. In conclusion, it was found that the CFD non-dimensional numbers are useful for the design parameters of GE prevention.