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ISSN Online: 2377-424X

International Heat Transfer Conference 12
August, 18-23, 2002, Grenoble, France

The Steam Explosion Induced by the Molten Reactor Material-Water Interaction

Get access (open in a dialog) DOI: 10.1615/IHTC12.4290
6 pages

Abstract

This paper discusses the results of the steam explosion experiments using the reactor material of UO2/ZrO2 mixture, which has been carried out in Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) under the name of "Test for Real cOrium Interaction with water (TROI)." The objective of the program is to investigate whether the reactor material would lead to an energetic steam explosion and to evaluate the dynamic load, if occurs. This paper describes the experimental facility, the melting technique of the reactor material, and results of the experiments. The melt/water interactions were made in the water pool at room temperature located in a pressure vessel. Energetic spontaneous steam explosions were firstly observed for the reactor material. The morphology of debris and pressure profile clearly indicate the occurrence of the steam explosion. The process parameters including the dynamic pressure, dynamic impulse, water and melt temperature, static pressure inside the containment chamber were measured.