On the Calculation of Steam Explosion Conversion Ratios from Experimental Data

Abstract

Conversion ratios reported for the Sandia National Laboratories intermediate-scale (FITS-B series) steam explosion experiments have been examined and recalculated. It is shown that these conversion ratios corresponding to the work done to compress the chamber air, {eta}{sub D} range from 0.05 to 1.04% compared with reported values of 0.2 to 8.6%. The corresponding maximum value for the total fraction of melt thermal energy converted to both kinetic energy and compression work, {eta}{sub tot} = {eta}{sub KE} + {eta}{sub D}, is 2.34% compared to a reported value of 9.9%.