Results of scoping experiments on melt stream breakup and quench

The results of recent scoping-type experiments are described in which a high-temperature melt stream of metallic or corium composition falls through a quenching medium of water or sodium. The pour stream typically exhibits breakup owing to hydrodynamic and in some cases boiling-related instabilities. The material pairs used in these scoping tests included molten corium and water, Wood's Metal or tin and water, and molten uranium metal and sodium. Preliminary results of these studies pertaining to cover gas entrainment, growth of the mixing region, and characteristics of the debris are described