ИСТИНА

This work is concerned with thermo-mechanical interaction between hot and cold liq-uids that can result in so-called “steam (or vapor) explosion”. If hot liquid temperature is well above the boiling point of the cold liquid (or coolant), a vapor film separates the two sub-stances, limiting the heat transfer rate. However, due to spontaneous development of intrinsic instability of the interface, or due to some initiating event (triggering), the film can collapse, promoting direct contact of two fluids and explosive boil-up of the cold volatile liquid. Phenomena of this kind are encountered in many areas, including underwater volcano eruptions, accidents in smelting industry with water-melt interactions, in severe accidents with nuclear power reactor core meltdown. Hazardous consequences of such a rapid boil-up can be attributed either to generation of pressure waves and high momentum coolant slugs, strong enough to cause damage (this event is referred to as thermal detonation), or to dispersal of hot liquid by the rapidly expanding vapor.