A similarity criterion for spherical fuel elements free fall velocity in cylindrical channels with viscouse liquid

The introduction of nuclear high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGR) with an active zone based on spherical fuel elements (SFE) poses the task of determining the velocity of their free fall in cylindrical channels with a viscous liquid. To solve it, the experimental data of other researchers are generalized, and for a certain range of Reynolds numbers the criterion of similarity for the velocity of free fall of spheres in cylindrical channels with water is found. The criterion is formulated on the basis of the Freud number. It is shown that from the dependence of the velocity of falling of the model sphere in a cylindrical vessel with water on the dimensionless diameter of the sphere, it is possible to determine the velocity of falling of the sphere in water, arbitrary. (author)