Influence of melt freezing characteristics on steam explosion energetics
- Royal Inst. of Tech., Stockholm (Sweden). Div. of Nuclear Power Safety
This paper examines the freezing process of distinct melt particles interacting with water. Approximate time scales of freezing are estimated for some high-temperature melt materials that are of interest in experimental and reactor situations. Transient conduction calculations are performed to clarify the special freezing characteristics of oxidic melt materials (low conductivity) and binary melt mixtures (no definite freezing point). The transient calculations are compared with recent experiments indicating ``non-explosivity`` of Corium (UO{sub 2}-ZrO{sub 2}). One potential explanation, based on the freezing characteristics of binary Corium mixture, is proposed for the experimental observations. The numerical results are generalized by discussing the scaling implications of the thermal conduction analysis and by defining different freezing categories. Finally, conclusions are drawn on the potential influence of melt freezing characteristics on steam explosion energetic.
- OSTI ID:
- 271928
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960306--; ISBN 0-7918-1226-X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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