A steam explosion can occur in any kind of a water heater , where a sufficient amount of energy is delivered and the steam created exceeds the strength of the vessel . When the heat delivery is sufficiently rapid , a localized superheating can occur , resulting in a water hammer destroying the vessel . The SL-1 nuclear reactor accident is an example of a superheated burst of steam . However , in the SL1 example the pressure was released by the forced ejection of control rods which allowed the steam to be vented . The reactor did not explode , nor did the vessel rupture
SL-1
SL-1
Boiler explosion