Stabilizer for submerged gaseous jets in liquids

Abstract

The invention is a passive control technique effective in eliminating reverse flow instability. The invention preferably includes two flow stabilizers each preferably having a planar face. The flow stabilizers are disposed at an exit end of an injector so that the planar faces oppose each other and diverge in a direction normal to the flow of the gas passing through the injector.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising: an injector through which a gas flows at approximately the speed of sound into a liquid; and   a flow stabilizer having a planar face, said flow stabilizer being disposed at an exit end of said injector so that said planar face diverges in a direction normal to the flow of said gas through said injector, said flow stabilizer for reducing reverse flow of said gas.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said liquid is a liquid metal. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus of claim 2 in which said liquid metal is lithium. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to claim 3 in which said gas is sulfur hexafluoride. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus comprising: an injector through which a gas flows at approximately the speed of sound into a liquid; and   two flow stabilizers each having a planar face, said flow stabilizers being disposed at an exit end of said injector so that said planar faces oppose each other and diverge in a direction normal to the flow of said gas through said injector, said flow stabilizers for reducing reverse flow of said gas.   
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to claim 5 in which said liquid is a liquid metal. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus of claim 6 in which said liquid metal is lithium. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to claim 7 in which said gas is sulfur hexafluoride. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus for reducing reverse flow in liquid-metal combustion comprising: an injector through which a gas flows into a liquid metal thereby creating a boundary layer between said liquid metal and a liquid metal-gas mixture, said injector having a nozzle exit of a diameter here defined as a nozzle exit diameter; and   two flow stabilizers for reducing reverse flow of said gas, each flow stabilizer having a planar face with said flow stabilizers being disposed at an exit end of said injector so that said planar faces oppose each other and diverge in a direction normal to the flow of said gas through said injector, said planar faces having a length of at least five nozzle exit diameters and being positioned from said boundary layer a distance of at least one nozzle exit diameter.   
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim 9 in which said gas flows at approximately the speed of sound.