Study On Flow Field In Gas Centrifuge Considering Rarefied Flow Region

In order to study the flow structure of feed jet and the influence of feed onseparation performance, this article uses DSMC to simulate rarefied flow field underdifferent feed condition, and combines DSMC and CFD to considers the influence offeed on continuous flow field and separation performance.First, DSMC is used to simulate rarefied flow region. Distributions of gasproperties under different feed condition including no-feed, different feed model anddifferent feed position are received. The analysis shows that: In case of no feed, theflow region approximately fulfills the results of rigid body rotation. In case of radialfeed, the flow region near the feed outlet is largely influenced by the feed condition.The axial translation of feed results in the axial translation of gas properties. Withincrease of the radius of feed, temperature, axial velocity and radial velocity decreasenear the boundary of effluent,whereasangular velocity increase. In case of axial feed,the flow region in positive axial direction is largely influenced by the feed condition,whereas the flow region in negative axial direction approximately fulfills the results ofrigid body rotation.With increase of the radius of feed, temperature, axial velocity andradial velocity in positive axial direction decrease near the boundary ofeffluent,whereasangular velocity increase. Distributions of gas properties in negativeaxial direction don’t vary much.So feed position has a large influence on flow region ingas centrifuge.The boundary condition of continuous flow region is given based on the results ofrarefied flow region. Then CFD is used to simulate flow field considering rarefied flowregion. Distributions of flow field and separation performance under different feedmodel and feed position are received. The analysis shows that: After consideringrarefied flow region, separation performance of gas centrifuge decrease. Feed modeland feed position are important factors to influence separation performance. In case ofradial feed, optimal feed position exists in axial direction. In case of axial feed, optimalfeed position exists in radial direction.Thisarticle lays foundations of further study of the flow field in the gas centrifugeand can be referenced in the design of feed installation.