Liquid Metal Flow in Horizontal Rods

Abstract

The flow velocity and flow pattern of liquid tin contained in a long horizontal boat have been determined by radioactive tracer techniques. The major flow resulted from buoyancy forces generated by an imposed temperature gradient along the melt. The flow pattern in the longitudinal direction was observed to be unicellular. Flow in planes transverse to the longitudinal direction was also observed. A small adverse vertical temperature gradient was detected in the melt and is believed to be the driving force for the transverse flow. The results indicate that the flow velocity increases linearly with the average temperature gradient between the hot and cold ends of the melt, in the temperature range examined. The velocity is reproducible and is not particularly sensitive to slight variations in experimental procedure. The velocity is not dependent on the temperature distribution (linear or nonlinear) along the melt, providing there are no sections of the melt with a zero temperature gradient. In this case, fluid does not flow through these sections. The flow velocity increases with increasing average temperature of the melt. The results are in general agreement with the results predicted by a modification of Batchelor’s solution of fluid flow in a rectangular cavity. L. C. MacAULAY, Formerly a Graduate Student, Department of Metallurgy, University of British Columbia