PNNL

Abstract

This document presents the results of theoretical and experimental studies undertaken to establish a methodology for performing reduced-scale mixing tests with intermittent jet mixing systems in non-Newtonian fluids. A theoretical model for mixing cavern formation from steady and pulsed jets is developed and compared with data from single mixing jet tests in a non-Newtonian simulant. Scaling laws are proposed based on the modeling and dimensional analysis. Experimental validation of the scaling laws performed. Tests were conducted at three scales using two non-Newtonian simulants. The key similarity parameters were found to be the non-dimension jet frequency, the yield Reynolds number, and the jet Reynolds number. The validated scaling laws provided the basis for reduced-scale testing of plant-scale mixing systems. In this article, only the initial results for a single jet and the developed model and scaling laws will be discussed.