Nuclear Power Plant Meltdown

Zach, Luke, and Nick

What is it?

• It is a term that describes a severe nuclear reactor accident that results in core damage form over heating. Also describes the accidental melting of the core.

Causes

• A core meltdown occurs when the heat generated by the nuclear reactor exceeds the heat removed by the cooling systems to the point where at least one nuclear fuel element exceeds its melting point. Could be caused by a loss of coolant, loss of coolant pressure, or low coolant flow rate. It could also be caused by the reactor operating at a higher power level than it was designed to.

Environmental effects

• The reactors are designed to minimize the damage in the even of a nuclear meltdown. During the Chernobyl disaster, by the time the core melted, there had already been a large steam explosion and graphite fire, which caused a major release of radioactive contamination. Because cause of this the whole city unavailable to the public and there is three military checkpoints before you reach the city.

Human Effects

• If you’re exposed to chemical radiation, depending on how much you are exposed to, it can range from skin rashes to coma and death. It also damages DNA, which can cause birth defects in later generations. High enough doses can damage brain cells.

Area Affected

• The restricted area of Chernobyl is 2600 km2. How big an area is can affect depends on how big the nuclear reactor is and where it occurs (urban or rural). There is a town near Fukushima, Japan where the evacuation order has only recently been partially lifted. There are 11 municipalities that are considered n0-go zones, they have allowed some day visits to homes.

Prevention

• Nuclear reactors have many safety features that are either meant to prevent or limit the damage from a nuclear meltdown.