Propagation of a liquid-liquid explosion

Technical Report · Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6265243· OSTI ID:6265243

Harlow, F H; Ruppel, H M

Direct contact between two liquids, one cold and the other hot, may be precluded by the presence of a vapor film. Bridging of this film by one or both fluids results in rapid local boiling, which may initiate a propagating liquid-liquid explosion. A mechanism is discussed for the propagation that involves implosion of the film, rapid mixing of the fluids, heat exchange to warm the cold fluid above the temperature for spontaneous nucleation, and the explosive generation of vapor, which in turn continues to sustain the film implosion. Plausibility for the model is demonstrated by means of numerical studies by high-speed computer.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6265243
• Report Number(s): LA-8971-MS; ON: DE81030780; TRN: 81-016662
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety