Maybe Someone Here Can Help

[MattG]

The explosion could be simulated by modeling the fuel rods as hollow cylinders of a material designed to melt when the fluid in your physical model reaches a certain point (maybe some type of wax?). Inside the hollow cylinders could be a compound that reacts with the surrounding fluid to simulate an explosion. Baking soda mixing with vinegar would be one simple way, though ideally you'd want that reaction to be exothermic to ensure the other 'fuel rods' also then melt for maximum effect (I think baking soda + vinegar is endothermic so might not produce the desired results with this example).

[Cthulhu]

IIRC steam voids had a bunch to do with it. Steam isn't good at absorbing neutrons compared to water (RMBK uses light water, right?). Graphite is also screwy

Check out RMBK reactor design:

RBMK - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As far as graphite being a screwy moderator, look up Wigner effect:

Wigner effect - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Windscale fire had a lot to due with Wigner effect in graphite. The graphite moderated open air reactor would go screwy as a result of it.

Windscale fire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hope that helps

Maybe you can incorporate a positive feedback into your physical model, like an exothermic dissolution (of some really exothermic ionic solid) into cold water. The hotter the water gets as a result of the dissolution, the more the solid dissolves.

[jk13]

It would seem I can't find magnesium, so the thermite idea may not work out...

[Amarao]

Originally Posted by jk13

It would seem I can't find magnesium, so the thermite idea may not work out...

Mini Strike Master Fire Starter

[jk13]

And that is why I love the forum so much.

[Cthulhu]

Originally Posted by jk13

It would seem I can't find magnesium, so the thermite idea may not work out...

You could always use LAH (Lithium Aluminum Hydride) tied to a string in a sac of filter paper above my setup. The positive feedback loop would be caused by the exothermic dissolution of an ionic solid in a cold liquid. When the liquid warms, reaction rate increases, resulting in really hot water. Steam is produced, wetting the filter paper around the LAH, setting the string/filter paper on fire and dropping the LAH into the steaming water. Should be plenty violent.

This post is for entertainment purposes only

[Amarao]

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

This post is for entertainment purposes only

Yeah, I'm actually slightly concerned with the outcome of this experiment. But hey, Texas is pretty far away from Colorado, so what am I worried about?

[Cthulhu]

Originally Posted by Amarao

Yeah, I'm actually slightly concerned with the outcome of this experiment. But hey, Texas is pretty far away from Colorado, so what am I worried about?

If anything went wrong, it would teach the OP two important lessons:

1) Always watch out for positive feedback loops, they're bad because you can't control them, they can be bad even when they're doing something that you want.

2) Don't trust the internet.

3) Do everything I say and you will get cake.

4) I like turtles.

But OP must choose which two from the above ^

P.S. The cake is a lie... the cake is a lie... the cake is a lie... and turtles are boring.

[jk13]

So this is the expected response, but I wouldn't worry too much. I know that I don't know too much on the subject, so I'm checking with other people who do know what they're talking about. I haven't actually done anything yet since I don't want to start anything without a good understanding of what is going to happen.

On a related note, my roommate did decide to ask one of his profs about magnesium. He "got a stern talking to"

[Amarao]

I explained to a teacher back in high school how to produce thermite at home, he just had a look of horror on his face.