Numerical approach on the performance prediction of a gas–liquid separator for TMSR

In this paper, the numerical simulation for the gas–liquid flow in a separator applied in the fission gas removal system for thorium molten salt reactor was investigated. The numerical model was established in the frame of Eulerian–Eulerian approach, in which the modeling of the forces acting on the bubbles was introduced. Based on the model, numerical simulations with three flow rates were carried out. Three key parameters (the pressure loss, the separation length, the liquid entrainment ratio) concerned with the separation performance were compared between the numerical results and the experimental data, the results indicate that the calculated results agree well with the experimental data. Hence, the numerical approach shows a promising tool for the performance prediction and the optimization of the gas–liquid separator.