Visualization of plunging jet behavior in molten alloy

High-frame-rate neutron radiography was applied to observe the penetration behavior of a plunging water jet in a high-temperature (≤ 713 K) molten Pb-Bi alloy liquid pool. Using high-speed video cameras combined with image intensifiers and a high-flux neutron source, the interactions among the water jet, molten alloy and vapor generated were successfully visualized at imaging rates of 1000 frames per second and each component of liquids and vapor was distinguishable. The general penetration behaviors of the plunging jet in two boiling conditions, i.e., for the interfacial contact temperatures below and above the homogeneous nucleation temperature, were examined by means of penetration depth and width. These behaviors were compared with those observed in non-boiling plunging water jet tests. It is suggested that a boiling correlation for the penetration depth with the consideration of boiling parameters would be needed. (author)