Optical visualization of metal droplet breakup in vapor explosion

Ueda, Hayate*; Asahara, Makoto*; Kamiya, Tomohiro 

Vapor explosions occur when the thermal energy of a molten metal droplet immersed in water is rapidly converted into mechanical energy. The metal droplet breakup promotes this conversion and thus has a significant influence on explosion behavior. In this study, optical visualization and pressure measurements were performed in vapor explosion experiments with a single droplet. The results confirmed the generation of pressure waves associated with the breakup, and data contributing to the development of vapor explosion models were obtained.