The effects of thermal conditions and jet dynamic properties on steam explosion

Coolant injection (CI) into a pool of molten metal might leads to Steam Explosion (SE). This study, experimentally investigates the effects of thermal conditions and jet dynamic properties on the SE phenomenon in coolant injection mode of contact. The experiments conducted in a close vessel using a water jet injected into 2 to 4.5 kg of pure molten metals, such as: Aluminium (Al), Tin (Sn) and Bismuth (Bi). The melt initial temperatures ranged between - , and the water temperatures varied from to . The affect of the melt and water initial temperatures, was first investigated by using Thermal Interaction Zone (TIZ) map as Dullfore et al suggested. However, experiments inside the TIZ boundaries did not end up in explosion, as been expected. Moreover, outside the TIZ boundaries in some cases explosions did occur. These observations indicate that other parameters, that did not took into account in the TIZ map (Dullfore et al), are affecting the likelihood of the phenomena to occur, such as: the jet dynamic properties and the injection method (thin spray or jet). The current study presents a new method to predict steam explosion by using TIZ boundaries together with the dynamic properties