Numerical simulation of jet breakup behavior by the lattice Boltzmann method

Abstract

In order to understand the jet breakup behavior of the molten core material into coolant during a core disruptive accident (CDA) for a sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR), we simulated the jet breakup due to the hydrodynamic interaction using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The applicability of the LBM to the jet breakup simulation was validated by comparison with our experimental data. In addition, the influence of several dimensionless numbers such as Weber number and Froude number was examined using the LBM. As a result, we validated applicability of the LBM to the jet breakup simulation, and found that the jet breakup length is independent of Froude number and in good agreement with the Epstein's correlation when the jet interface becomes unstable.