ICMS'2000

The International Conference on Multiphase Systems, ICMS'2000
Ufa, RUSSIA, June 15-17, 2000

CFD Study of Mixing in a Double-Diffusive Systems

Gubaidullin A. A., Jr.

Division of Nuclear Power Safety, Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, SWEDEN

In this paper, the CFD analysis is performed for a two-layer salt-stratified system, destabilized and mixed, either by lateral heating in a square cavity, or by internal heating in a semi-circular vessel. The predicted mixing time and heat transfer data for the rectangular geometry are compared to those reported in literature. The motion of the initially planar interface between the two stably stratified layers of fluid is computed once the convection began. The development of the layers are predicted. The shape of the interface during mixing becomes highly nonlinear and is characterized by multiple vortices. Physical mechanism responsible for mixing of stratified layers in an internally-heated systems are elucidated. The commercial CFD code CFX-4.1 was used for these simulations.