Validation of X-ray radiography for characterization of gas bubbles in liquid metals

Abstract

X-ray radiography has proved to be an efficient and powerful tool for the visualization of two-phase flows in non-transparent fluids, in particular in liquid metals. This paper presents a validation of the X-ray radiography by comparing measurements in water with corresponding results obtained by optical methods. For that purpose Ar bubbles were injected through a single orifice. The measurements results are compared in terms of bubble size, bubble shape and velocity. Furthermore, visualization experiments were performed in the eutectic alloy GaInSn where the image contrast between the liquid phase and the gas bubble is much stronger. Some obvious differences of the bubble dynamics in water and GaInSn are discussed.