Medium-scale experiment with production of prototypical ~100 kg melt and an analysis of its interaction with concrete

The results of a medium-scale experiment in which a prototypical melt is produced by combustion of a chemically active substance in the course of the reaction 2Fe2O3 + 3Zr = 3ZrO2 + 4Fe + 2840 kJ/kg in a ~6·10−2 m3 concrete container are presented. It is shown that the ~100 kg melt, whose temperature is 2700–3200 K, so obtained produces heat fluxes 100–150 kW/m2 into the walls and bottom of the concrete container for ~10 min. The ablation of the walls of the concrete container was 2.5–3 cm at the completion of the experiment.