Efficiency of mixing by a turbulent jet in a stably stratified fluid

Mixing in a two-layer stably stratified fluid by a turbulent jet was studied by a laboratory experiment. A non-swirling jet was discharged vertically downwards in a confined fluid system consisting initially of a top layer of fresh water and a bottom layer of salt water. In total, 16 experimental cases were considered, where the diameter and exit velocity of the jet were varied together with the density difference between the top and bottom layer. Vertical density profiles were determined from conductivity measurements. A three-layer density structure developed in all cases with an intermediate layer that grew in size with time elapsed as fresh and salt water were mixed. The mixing efficiency, defined as the percentage of the supplied kinetic jet energy that is used for increasing the potential energy of the fluid system, was related to a densimetric Froude number based on the intermediate layer depth. Overall, the calculated jet mixing efficiency displayed higher values than comparable efficiencies for destratification with air-bubble plumes.