Numerical simulation of gas entrainment phenomena with interface-tracking method

Ito, Kei; Koizumi, Yasuo*; Ohshima, Hiroyuki; Kawamura, Takumi*

The authors are developing a high-precision CFD code with an enhanced interface tracking method to simulate the gas entrainment (GE) phenomena in sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs). The GE in SFRs is characterized by an elongated interfacial dent (gas core) along the vortex core and the bubble pinch-off at the tip of the gas core. The authors have developed physics-basis algorithms which model accurately the interfacial shape (gradient and curvature) and the mechanical balance condition at an interface. In this paper, a simple experiment of the GE is simulated to validate the developed code. The simulation result of the bubble pinch-off and the entrained flow rate shows good agreement with the experimental data, that is, the developed simulation code can be applicable to the evaluation of the GE in SFRs.