[chimera]

Certainly if heat energy is absorbed by the cladding to the point of cracking or melting, that will carry off a significant amount of thermal energy. Whenever you have a phase change you get a “bonus” in heat removal. That's why wet cooling towers are very nice for cooling of the condenser recirc water in a power plant.

But in the event of fuel overheating, it is better if the cladding takes the heat than just the fuel pellets alone.

[Errant]

Certainly if heat energy is absorbed by the cladding to the point of cracking or melting, that will carry off a significant amount of thermal energy.

I was referring to the likelihood (if any) that melting cladding and other, would mix with the melting pellets and help to control the reaction. Is that a false assumption on my part?