Stephen A. Lawrence wrote:
Exactly which test do you refer to? What was the date?
Despite my use of the singular, I wasn't thinking of a single specific
test; as far as I can recall, all the "steam" tests done in the spring
supposedly had the same output temperature, to within a degree: 101C
+/- 1 degree. Since I didn't say anything about flow rate or absolute
power level, my comments regarding precision of control applied
equally to any and all such tests.
These tests all employed large reservoirs in the reactors, so the water
level might have varied. It must have varied. There is no reason to
think the power was stable to within 1%, never mind a fraction of 1%.
If there had been one test done, ever, with an output temperature
substantially higher than 110C, it would be a different ballgame.
But, there wasn't; always the temperature is just a hair over boiling.
Only at sea level in good weather. I have seen water boil considerably
below 100°C.
The colonel and others who know a lot about steam have all said that
they are certain this was dry steam. I'm sure they are right and the
people here who disagree are wrong. I tend to believe experts who have
worked in a field for decades, rather than the peanut gallery.
- Jed
