Two-phase velocity measurements in horizontally-discharging buoyant sediment jets

Abstract

Mixing of buoyant jets laden with solid sediments at different concentrations is studied in the laboratory. The jets discharge in an initial horizontal direction into an otherwise stagnant environment. The velocities of the fluid phase and the particle phase are measured simultaneously with particle-image velocimetry (PIV) using two cameras. Separation of the two phases is achieved by marking jet effluent fluid with fluorescent dye. Results suggest that mixing and rising of the buoyant jets are modified from the single-phase case when the sediment concentration increases. Some structures of the particle velocity fields are revealed. Discussion is made on the interaction between the particle phase and the jet flow phase.