Experimental study on fragmentation behaviors of molten LBE and water contact interface

Based on the design of CLEAR (China LEAd-based Reactor), it is important to study the molten LBE (Lead-Bismuth Eutectic)/water interaction following an incidental steam generator tube rupture (SGTR) accident. Experiments were carried out to investigate the fragmentation behavior of the molten LBE/water contacting interface, with a high-speed video camera to record the fragmentation behavior of 300-600 ℃ LBE at 20 ℃ and 80 ℃ of water temperature. Violent explosion phenomenon occurred at water temperature of 20 ℃, while no explosion occurred at 80 ℃. Shapes of the LBE debris became round at 80 ℃ of water temperature, whereas the debris was of the needle-like shape at 20 ℃. For all the molten LBE and water temperatures in the present study, the debris sized at 2.8-5.0 mm had the largest mass fraction. The results indicate that the dominant physical mechanism of the molten LBE fragmentation was the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability between LBE/water direct contact interface. (authors)