Turbulent Velocity Measurement of Rectangular Sub-channel Mixing Using Laser Doppler Velocimetry

Abstract

The methodology used to measure water velocity across compound rectangular channels connected by a thin gap under balanced flow conditions is presented. The objective of this research is to generate sub-channel flow maps, which can be used to assess models used in nuclear safety analysis sub-channel codes. Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) is used in order to obtain 2-dimensional (axial and transverse) flow velocity measurements of water in the subchannels. The resulting flow distribution in the sub-channels shows bilateral symmetry with respect to the center of the gap, whereas the transverse maps are more irregular. Velocity measurements are taken at different heights above the mixing inlet in order to find the full development of the flow.