Quenching of hot oxidizing surfaces Original Research Article

A one-dimensional time-dependent rewetting model is developed and assessed to describe the interrelated processes of conduction, convective cooling and exothermic steam–metal reactions at the vapor zirconium-cladding interface during quenching of degraded fuel rods. Upstream of the quench front a constant heat transfer coefficient is assumed whereas a heat flux profile of general spatial shape may be prescribed downstream. The quenching velocity history and the temperature profile are computed analytically via a Greenʹs function approach. Numerical results of the present model compare favorably with published experimental data.