Computer Simulations of Closed Liquid Metal Combustor Fluid Flow 929368

Flash radiography is used to study the internal processes of closed liquid metal combustion systems. Future projects with the combustors include placing small hollow spheres within the active bath to trace fluid flow and obtain spatial and temporal data. A ray tracing program which employs simplified Monte Carlo methods has been developed for use as a predicting tool for radiographic images produced during testing. A complex focal spot is characterized by either a monochromatic or polychromatic emission spectrum. The x-ray detection system is modeled by a planar detector having 100% efficiency. The code simulates the imaging of the small hollow spheres in the combustor for three dimensional localization from two dimensional projections. Still radiographic images of a mock combustor and a plane of cylindrical objects are used to compare edge detection and object location for real and simulated images.