Evaluating the Vapor Film Effect on the Melt Mixing with Water at Their Initially Stratified Configuration
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24160/1993-6982-2026-2-131-137Keywords:
steam explosion, Rayleigh-Taylor instability, dispersion equation, hydrodynamicsAbstract
The stability of the three-layer stratified hydrodynamic system «water (top) – steam – melt (bottom)» is analyzed in a linear statement. Kinematic and dynamic conditions at the "water – steam" and "steam – melt" interfaces are formulated, which are used to derive a dispersion equation interrelating the circular frequency of perturbations with the wave number. From an analysis of this equation, it became possible to determine the instability domain of this system and to find the wave number of the most rapidly growing harmonic component. The results obtained were applied to estimate the size of bubbles generated at the interface between steam and water as a consequence of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability onset. The obtained theoretical results are consistent with experimental observations in such systems. The heights of the melt splashes into water caused by the collapse of generated steam bubbles have been estimated. The obtained estimates demonstrate that there is a possibility of a melt-water mixture domain to emerge when the melt spreads under a water layer, in which a violent steam explosion can occur.
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Для цитирования: Финошкина Д.В., Мелихов О.И., Мелихов В.И. Оценка влияния паровой пленки на перемешивание расплава с водой при их первоначально стратифицированной конфигурации // Вестник МЭИ. 2026. № 2. С. 131—137. DOI: 10.24160/1993-6982-2026-2-131-137
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Конфликт интересов: авторы заявляют об отсутствии конфликта интересов
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2. Melikhov V.I., Melikhov O.I., Yakush S.E. Termicheskoe Vzaimodeystvie Vysokotemperaturnykh Rasplavov s Zhidkostyami. Teplofizika Vysokikh Temperatur. 2022;60;2:280—318. (in Russian).
3. Witte L.G., Cox J.E. Thermal Explosion Hazard. Advances in Nuclear Sci. and Technol. 1973;7:329—364.
4. Zyszkowski W. Thermal Explosion Hazards in (Fast) Nuclear Reactors. Atomic Energy Rev. 1978;16(1):3—87.
5. Cronenberg A.W., Benz R. Vapor Explosion Phenomena with Respect to Nuclear Reactor Safety Assessment. Advance in Nuclear Sci. and Technol. 1980;12:247—321.
6. Buttner R. Zimanowski B. Physics of Thermohydraulic Explosions. Phys. Rev. E. 1998;57(5):5726—5729.
7. Berthoud G. Vapor Explosions. Annual Rev. Fluid Mechanics. 2000;32:573—611.
8. Meignen R. e. a. Comparative Review of FCI Computer Models Used in the OECD-SERENA Program. Proc. ICAPP. Seoul, 2005:5087.
9. Meignen R. e. a. Status of Steam Explosion Understanding and Modelling. Ann. Nucl. Energy. 2014;74:125—133.
10. Shen P. e. a. Corium Behavior and Steam Explosion Risks: a Review of Experiments. Ann. Nucl. Energy. 2018;121:162—176.
11. Board S.J., Hall R.W. Propagation in Thermal Explosions. Proc. II Specialist Meeting on S.F.I. Ispra. 1973:53—69.
12. Board S.J., Hall R.W., Hall R.S. Detonation of Fuel Coolant Explosions. Nature. 1975;254:319—321.
13. Frohlich G. Interaction Experiments Between Water and Hot Melts in Entrapment and Stratification Configurations. Chem. Geology. 1987;62:137—147.
14. Anderson R., Armstrong D., Cho D., Kras A. Experimental and Analytical Study of Vapor Explosions in Stratified Geometries. Proc. American Nuclear Soc. National Heat Transfer Conf. Houston, 1988:236—243.
15. Bang K.H., Corradini M.L. Stratified Vapor Explosion Experiments. Chem. Eng. Communications. 1989;86(1):31—42.
16. Ciccarelli G., Frost D.L., Zarafonitis C. Dynamics of Explosive Interactions Between Molten Tin and Water in Stratified Geometry. Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics. Washington, 1991:307—325.
17. Sainson J., Gabillard M., Williams T. Propagation of Vapor Explosions in Stratified Geometry Experiments with Liquid Nitrogen and Water. Proc. the CSNI Specialist’s Meeting on Fuel-coolant Interactions. Santa Barbara, 1993:148—158.
18. Frost D.L., Bruckert B., Ciccarelli G. Effect of Boundary Conditions on the Propagation of a Vapor Explosion in Stratified Molten Tin/water Systems. Nuclear Eng. and Design. 1995;155:311—333.
19. Harlow F.H., Rappel H.M. Propagation of a Liquid-liquid Explosion. Los Alamos National Laboratory Rep. LA-8971-MS UC-34, 1981.
20. Kudinov P., Grishchenko D., Konovalenko A., Karbojian A. Premixing and Steam Explosion Phenomena in the Tests with Stratified Melt-coolant Configuration and Binary Oxidic Melt Simulant Materials. Nuclear Eng. and Design. 2017;314:182—197.
21. Melikhov V.I., Melikhov O.I., Yakush S.E., Le T.C. Evaluation of Energy and Impulse Generated by Superheated Steam Bubble Collapse in Subcooled Water. Nuclear Eng. and Design. 2020;366:110753.
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For citation: Finoshkina D.V., Melikhov O.I., Melikhov V.I. Evaluating the Vapor Film Effect on the Melt Mixing with Water at Their Initially Stratified Configuration. Bulletin of MPEI. 2026;2:131—137. (in Russian). DOI: 10.24160/1993-6982-2026-2-131-137
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Conflict of interests: the authors declare no conflict of interest
