Extended dryout and rewetting of small-particle core debris

Extended dryout of core debris, especially the location, size and temperature distribution of the dry zone and the variation of these parameters with time and power density (down to rewetting) was studied with volume-heated beds. The beds were composed of small, spherical stainless steel particles and water was used as coolant. In addition, transient rewetting was investigated starting with a dry bed of uniform temperature.