The Effect of Baffle Position on the Distribution Characteristics of Aerosol Produced from Solution Ejection

A simulation experimental equipment with baffles was designed based on the phenomena of solution leakage in nuclear fuel cycle facilities. The distribution characteristics of aerosol produced from solution jetting at different baffle positions was studied with help of an electrical low-pressure impactor and a laser particle size analyzer. Analysis on experimental data that compared large particles (0.040–10.000 μm) with small particles (0.006–0.108 μm) revealed that the number concentration curves of large particles reached equilibrium relatively quickly. The number of aerosol particles gradually decreased with the increase in distance from baffle to jet pipe; this may be because the farther the baffle was from the jet pipe, the more energy the ejected solution lost. Fewer droplets of the solution were broken up after impacting the baffle, and more large droplets were formed. The increase in distance from baffle to jet pipe resulted in the decrease in volume concentration of large particles within the size range of 1.000 to 4.400 μm. The maximum particle size of aerosol reduced to 68.13 μm at 80 cm of the distance from baffle to jet pipe. Finally, the aerosol release fraction (ARF) of aerosol was analyzed. The ARF of aerosol at 40 cm and 60 cm distance from baffle to jet pipe was about 7.0 × 10−5, which was was approximately one order of magnitude larger than that at 20 cm and 80 cm. This result was consistent with a large mass concentration of aerosol at the same condition.