Boiling water, explosion

Dissolving N. N. N. N -tctrachloroadipamide in boiling water gives a highly explosive oil, probably dichloramine. 

Events of this nature have been described by various terms, e.g., rapid phase transitions (RPTs), vapor explosions, explosive boiling, thermal explosions, and fuel-coolant interactions (FCIs). They have been reported in a number of industrial operations, e.g., when water contacts molten metal, molten salts, or cryogenic liquids such as liquefied natural gas (LNG). In the first two examples noted above, water is the more volatile liquid and explosively boils whereas, in the last example, the cryogenic liquid plays the role of the volatile boiling liquid and water is then the hot fluid. 

Laboratory investigations into the mechanism of smelt-water explosive boiling events have been primarily of value in delineating the effect of smelt composition on the sensitivity of the salt in producing RPTs. For example, pure molten sodium carbonate has never led to explosive boiling. Addition of either (or both) sodium chloride or sodium sulfide lead to smelts which are more prone to explosive boiling. Investigators experimented with many additives both to the smelt and to the water in an attempt to obtain less sensitivity. Most had little or no effect. 

Experimental test results for molten aluminum-water RPTs are described in Section V. Also shown is a tabulation of most documented aluminum-water explosive boiling incidents (see Table XIV). In many accidents, the quantity of water was quite small, e.g., some resulted when wet aluminum ingots were loaded into melting furnaces containing molten aluminum. In contrast, one notes that few, if any, serious events have ever been obtained when small quantities of aluminum were contacted with a large mass of water. Since laboratory tests were often carried out in the latter fashion, most of these have produced negative results. 

Fig. 1. RPT compositions for an ethane-propane-n-butane system on 293-K water ( ) explosion (0) pop (O) boil.

In this article, we suggest that a modified superheated-liquid model could explain many facts, but the basic premise of the model has never been established in clearly delineated experiments. The simple superheated-liquid model, developed for LNG and water explosions (see Section III), assumes the cold liquid is prevented from boiling on the hot liquid surface and may heat to its limit-of-superheat temperature. At this temperature, homogeneous nucleation results with significant local vaporization in a few microseconds. Such a mechanism has been rejected for molten metal-water interactions since the temperatures of most molten metals studied are above the critical point of water. In such cases, it would be expected that a steam film would encapsulate the water to... 

Bachman and co-workers ° studied the synthesis of the high explosive ethylenedinitrantine (2) (EDNA) from the hydrolysis of secondary nitramides. One of the oldest routes to EDNA (2) involves the nitration of 2-imidazolidone (66) with mixed acid, followed by hydrolysis of the resulting A,A -dinitro-2-imidazolidone (67) with boiling water. 2-Imidazolidone (66) is readily synthesized from the reaction of urea with ethylene glycol, or by treating either... 

Implosion. The reverse of explosion—when the walls of a confining vessel collapse inwards, instead of bursting outwards. For instance, when a thin-walled glass container is partially filled with boiling water, sealed and then cooled, the vessel may collapse with a loud noise. This is due to the fact that water vapor condenses on cooling, creating a partial vacuum inside the vessel. This causes the atmosphere, which is at a higher pressure, to push the walls of the container towards the inside until they are broken... 

Methylnitramine is very readily soluble in water, alcohol, chloroform and benzene but is less soluble in ether. It is a strong acid which easily forms salts, including explosive ones. It is not decomposed by boiling water, even in the presence of alkalis, but it is liable to destructive distillation yielding dimethylnitramine (CH3)2NN02, m.p. 57°C, methyl alcohol, nitrous oxide and many other products. 

Another kind of complex salts was obtained by Hodgkinson and Hoare [125] by the action of an ammoniacal solution of cupric, nickelous-nickelic or silver oxide on an alcoholic solution of tetranitromethane. Precipitates are then formed which are insoluble in water, explosive, but unstable, decomposing on boiling in water. 

A liquid does not necessarily begin boiling when the temperature reaches the boiling point. If kept perfectly quiet, and especially if covered with a film of oil, water may be raised several degrees above its normal boiling point, before it suddenly boils with explosive violence it then returns to its line boiling point. 

The SL-1 (Stationary Low Power No. 1) was a 3-MW (thermal) boiling water reactor operated by military personnel at the National Reactor Testing Station, Idaho. As a result of interference with the control rods, there was an explosion on 3 January 1961 in which about 5 tonne of coolant were expelled from the pressure vessel (Horan Gammil, 1963). 

Cold water should always be used when dissolving sodium hydroxide because considerable heat is generated. If hot water is used, the solution will boil with explosive violence and may result in serious burns. If the water is not cold enough, the solution may start to steam. If this should occur, add some ice to cool the solution. DO NOT BREATHE THE VAPOR. If it starts to steam, leave the room until it is cool. 

Potassium chlorate forms colorless to white crystals, white granules or powder. The crystals have a melting point of 368 Celsius, and are relatively insoluble in water and most organic solvents. However, the crystals are soluble in boiling water. Potassium chlorate forms explosives mixtures with combustible materials. These mixtures readily ignite from friction, heat, flames, or sparks. Potassium chlorate should be kept away from iodides and tartaric acid. 

Potassium perchlorate forms colorless to white crystals, or white crystalline powder, or granules. The crystals begin to decompose when heated to 400 Celsius into oxygen and potassium chloride. Potassium perchlorate is sensitive to concussion, and forms explosive mixtures with combustible materials such as sulfur and charcoal. The crystals have a low solubility in water (1 gram per 65 milliliters of water) at room temperature, but the crystals are somewhat soluble in boiling water (1 gram in 15 milliliters). Potassium perchlorate is insoluble in the usual solvents. 

This explosives manufacture is simple. The fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate is powdered with a mortar pestle or ground in a similar manner. This should be done until the consistancy of face powder is obtained. This powdering can also be accomplished by dissolving the AN prills in boiling water (30% water, 70% AN). This liquor might need to be gently heated to get the AN to completely dissolve. This should be done in a pyrex or preferably stainless steel container. 

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