Explosive interaction of molten UO2 and liquid sodium

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Abstract
The interim report presented describes a continuation of the work reported in ANL-7890, Interaction of Sodium with Molten UO/sub 2/ and Stainless Steel Using a Dropping Mode of Contact. In the current study, sodium was injected into a pool of molten UO/sub 2/. The experiment consistently produced vapor explosions, both with the injection nozzle above and beneath the surface of the UO/sub 2/. Although the efficiency of the conversion of thermal to mechanical energy was small (due in part to very conservative data analysis and an inefficient geometry), the results did demonstrate that there is no intrinsic reason why reactor materials cannot produce a vapor explosion.

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