Vapour Films on Liquid Metals

Abstract

Vapour explosions resulting from the interaction of molten metals with water have been violent enough to cause loss of life. Widespread research has been initiated to study the cause of these explosions. In this work, vapour films are examined to provide information relevant to vapour explosion phenomena. Experiments have been performed to gain information on film boiling heat transfer from solid and liquid metals to coolants and to examine the physical characteristics and stability of vapour films. The bulk of the experiments involved the quenching of solid copper in water and organic (methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, acetone, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride) coolants and the quenching of liquid tin and liquid copper in water. Transient calorimetry techniques were used to gain heat transfer data, and electrical techniques were used to examine the stability of vapour films. The capacitative properties of vapour films were examined, and estimates of vapour film thick messes were made. Results from the experiments were discussed in the context of self-triggered (spontaneous) explosions and externally triggered explosions.