Rapid evaporation of liquid during depressurization is a common phenomenon observed in industrial applications or during nuclear reactor accidents. The experimental study on rapid evaporation of high-pressure R113 liquid bulk during quick depressurization has been conducted. It is confirmed that initial pressure and initial fluid temperature are the principal factors affecting liquid temperature and pattern transitions. During the fast depressurization, the higher the initial pressure is, the faster the liquid temperature decreases with the same initial fluid temperature, and the lower the minimum temperature reaches. The higher the initial fluid temperature is, the faster the liquid temperature decreases with the same initial pressure. It is found that a larger depressurization increases the intensity of liquid bulk evaporation, and speeds up the liquid temperature decline. Results indicate that the pressure change in the test vessel is divided into two stages during depressurization. First the temperature of liquid decreases suddenly for the initial 0.5 s after opening the solenoid valve, and second the liquid temperature changes slowly when the pressure in the test vessel keeps a steady-state value. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.