Analysis of influence of steam superheating on packed-bed quench phenomena

Experimental data suggest that steam produced within a particle bed, which is being quenched by flow from an overlying pool of water, has a strong potential for being superheated. This is a result of heat transfer from the unquenched particulate in the dry channels of the bed. A model is presented for the debris bed quench process, which considers the effects of steam superheat on both the bed heat flux and on the quench front propagation characteristics. Calculations presented demonstrate the effects of steam superheat. A preliminary comparison of the model, with experimental data from packed-bed quench experiments is also presented. 9 references, 5 figures