SURFACE TENSION MEASUREMENT OF MOLTEN ZIRCONIA WITH AERODYNAMIC LEVITATION AND LASER HEATING

Abstract

Thermophysical properties of corium are required in models and computer codes to predict the severe accident progression in light water reactors. However, the measurement of molten corium properties is challenging due to high melting points. This paper presents a surface tension measurement system for molten zirconia based on techniques of aerodynamic levitation and laser heating. Zirconia is one of the main components in corium and aerodynamic levitation is a contactless method to avoid interactions between the sample and container wall at high temperatures. A sample of zirconia was levitated by argon gas flow above a conical converging-diverging nozzle and then melted into a droplet by laser beams. The oscillation of molten zirconia was imaged by a high-speed camera. The resonant frequency was then obtained through image processing. Finally, the surface tension was derived according to the Rayleigh formula.