Experimental study of mixing of buoyant jets in turbulent currents

This study investigates the effect of turbulent current on the near-field behavior of buoyant jets. In a laboratory flume, homogeneous, isotropic turbulence was created by towing a vertical grid in front of buoyant jets. Turbulence intensity generated by the grid were measured by a hot-film anemometer. Trajectories and spreading coefficients of the buoyant jets were extracted from camera photos by image processing method. Experimental conditions including single port and multiport discharges. It was found the influence of turbulence intensity on jet trajectory is insignificant, but the spreading coefficient increases with increasing turbulence intensity. This indicates that ambient turbulence can enhance the near-field entrainment and merging of buoyant jets.