Visualization study of molten metal-water interaction by using neutron radiography

The purpose of this study is to visualize the behavior of molten metal drop ped into water during the premixing process by means of neutron radiography which makes use of the difference in the attenuation characteristics of ma terials. For this purpose, a high-sensitive, high-frame-rate imaging system using neutron radiography was constructed and was applied to visualization of the behavior of molten metal dropped into water. The test rig consisted of a furnace and a test section. The furnace could heat the molten metal u p to 650 degrees C. The test section was a rectangular tank made of aluminu m alloy. The lank was filled with heavy water and molten Wood's metal was d ropped into heavy water. Visualization study was carried out with use of th e high-frame-rate neutron radiography to see the breakup of molten metal je t or lump dropped into heavy water pool. In the images obtained, water, ste am or air bubbles, molten metal jets or droplets, cloud of small particles of molten metal after atomization could be distinguished. The debris of Woo d's metal was collected after the experiment, and the relation between the break-up behavior and the size and the shape of the debris particles was in vestigated. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.