Heat transfer and fluid dynamics in mercury-water spray columns

Abstract

Heat transfer and fluid dynamics were studied in columns in which hot mercury was sprayed into a rising stream of water. Volumetric and area heat transfer coefficients are presented which were found to be lower than those reported for heat transfer from fixed spheres. It was observed that considerable water bypassed the stream of drops, while some surrounding the drops flowed downward. This behavior resulted in water temperatures at the base of the column which were considerably higher than the inlet water temperatures. Consequently the outlet mercury temperature did not approach the inlet water temperature as a limit. The very unconventional flow pattern of the water was unexpected and is believed to be an important factor in spray-column heat transfer and mass transfer kinetics.