Validation simulations by DECOSIM code are performed against recent PDS-P experiments on particle spreading in a planar vertical water pool with bottom air injection. The model implemented in the code considers two-fluid formulation (water, air), turbulence effects in liquid phase are taken into account by k-epsilon model with additional generation terms accounting for two-phase effects. Particles are described by Lagrangian model, with turbulent dispersion modeled by random-walk model. Simulations are performed in conditions corresponding to experimental setup, the test section was a plane rectangular tank of variable length (0.9 and 1.5 m) and pool depth (0.5, 0.7, and 0.9 m), the superficial gas injection velocity ranged between 0.12 and 0.69 m/s. Sedimentation of spherical stainless steel (1.5 and 3 mm) and glass (3 mm) particles was calculated and compared with experiments with respect to the mean spreading distance and lateral distributions of mass fraction of particles. Reasonable agreement between the results obtained and experimental measurements is achieved for all pool geometries, gas injection rates, and particle types, confirming adequacy of the modeling approach and suitability of DECOSIM code for severe accident analysis related to debris bed formation. Possible ways to further reduction of uncertainty in model validation are discussed.
QC 20170109