On the transplosion phenomenon and the Leidenfrost temperature for the molten copper-water thermal interaction

Inverse Leidenfrost phenomenon for a molten metal (copper)-water system is considered. Transplosion occurred in a series of 120 tests with molten copper in the temperature range between 160 and 7500C for water of 200C and atmospheric pressure. Analytical correlations for the Leidenfrost temperature based on the hydrodynamical or thermodynamical approach are compared. The thermodynamical correlation describes better results for smooth surfaces and 'stable courses' of the molten copper cooling. The hydrodynamical correlation seems to give the upper limit of the Leidenfrost temperature, if some effects disturb the cooling process. The influence of such factors as nature and roughness of the surface material, metastable state of liquid, wettability of the hot surface, and cold liquid subcooling is discussed. (author)