Mixing Process by Molecular Diffusion and Natural Circulation of Two Component Gases in a Reverse U-Shaped Channel

Abstract

This study is to investigate an effect of natural convection (or natural circulation) on a mixing process by molecular diffusion in a reverse U-shaped channel consisting of two component gases. It is confirmed that these phenomena appear when the depressurization accident occurs in the very high temperature reactor (VHTR). The experiment has been performed regarding the combined phenomena of molecular diffusion and natural circulation in a two parallel vertical slots filled with two component gases. The experimental results show that the transport phenomena by the molecular diffusion are influenced by the natural circulation of the gas mixture in the reverse U-shaped channel.