NUCLEAR
DISASTERS :
WHAT WENT
WRONG
PRESENTED BY :
ABDULLAH KHAN(211001012)
MUHAMMAD HAREES(211001010)
HAMZA KHAN(211001013)
Fission Reaction
Nuclear Fission in Power Plants:
Nuclear fission is the splitting of a heavy nucleus (like uranium-235) into lighter nuclei, releasing energy and
neutrons:
Energy Conversion:
The energy released comes from the mass defect, via Einstein’s equation:
E=Δmc2
The emitted neutrons from each fission can trigger more fissions, creating a self-sustaining chain reaction
In nuclear power plants, the chain reaction is carefully controlled using control rods (usually made of boron
or cadmium) that absorb excess neutrons.
Fission Reaction
Moderators like water or graphite are used to slow down neutrons (thermalize them) to increase the
probability of fission
Fast neutron → Thermal neutron
The thermal energy from fission heats coolant water, producing steam, which drives a turbine connected to a
generator.
Common fuels include:
Uranium-235
Plutonium-239
Fission produces radioactive byproducts (e.g., cesium-137, iodine-131).
Requires shielding, cooling, and long-term waste management
Meltdowns (e.g., Chernobyl, Fukushima) result from loss of coolant/control
There have been several major nuclear disasters in history,
including:
Chernobyl disaster (1986): A nuclear reactor explosion in
Chernobyl, Ukraine, caused a fire that released large
amounts of radioactive particles into the atmosphere. This
was one of the worst nuclear accidents in history, and it
led to widespread contamination and numerous deaths.
Fukushima Daiichi disaster (2011): An earthquake and
Tsunami caused a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima
Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. The disaster led to
the release of radioactive materials and prompted the
evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people.
Three Mile Island accident (1979): A partial meltdown
Occurred at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in
Pennsylvania, USA, releasing small amounts of radiation
into the environment. While there were no immediate
deaths or injuries, the accident led to significant changes
in the regulation of the nuclear industry.
Chernobyl disaster (1986):
The Chernobyl disaster was the result of a series of events that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the No. 4
reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the city of Pripyat in the north of the Ukrainian SSR in
the Soviet Union.
The disaster began during a late-night safety test which simulated a power outage, during which safety
systems were intentionally turned off.
An explosion occurred in the No. 4 reactor, causing the reactor's roof to be blown off and a fire to break
out.
Large amounts of radioactive particles were released into the atmosphere, spreading over much of
Western USSR and Europe.
The plume drifted over large parts of Europe for about nine days before dissipating.
The radioactivity caused by the disaster was largely concentrated in a roughly 10-kilometer (6 mi) radius
surrounding the plant, but due to the prevailing wind direction at the time of the accident, a large
portion of the radioactive fallout landed on what is now Belarus.
The accident caused the evacuation and resettlement of over 336,000 people, including the entire
population of the nearby town of Pripyat, which was abandoned permanently.
The disaster had a significant impact on international relations, as it caused a rift in the relationship
between the Soviet Union and Western countries. It also raised concerns about the safety of the Soviet
nuclear power industry and nuclear power in general, slowing its expansion for a number of years and
forcing the Soviet government to become less secretive about its procedures.
Chernobyl disaster (1986):
Fukushima Daiichi disaster (2011):
The Fukushima disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power
Plant in Japan in 2011. It was caused by a massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit the region.
The earthquake and tsunami damaged the power plant's cooling systems, leading to the melting of fuel
rods and the release of radioactive material into the air and water. The disaster resulted in the evacuation
of thousands of people from the surrounding area and had a significant impact on the region's economy
and environment. It is considered to be the worst nuclear disaster since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.
Here is a summary of the chain of events that led to the disaster:
On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan, causing a massive
tsunami to hit the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
The tsunami damaged the power plant's cooling systems, leading to a loss of coolant in the reactors.
Without coolant, the fuel rods in the reactors began to overheat.
As the fuel rods overheated, they began to melt, leading to the release of radioactive material into the
air and water.
In an effort to prevent a complete meltdown, the plant's operators released steam from the reactors to
reduce pressure. This release of steam, however, also resulted in the release of more radioactive
material into the air.
The disaster prompted the evacuation of thousands of people from the surrounding area and had a
significant impact on the region's economy and environment. The cleanup and recovery efforts are still
ongoing today.
Fukushima Daiichi disaster (2011):
Three Mile Island accident (1979):
The Three Mile Island disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on March 28, 1979 at the Three Mile Island
Nuclear Generating Station in Pennsylvania, United States. It was caused by a failure in the cooling system of the
plant's Unit 2 reactor, which led to a partial meltdown of the reactor's core.
The accident released a small amount of radioactive gas into the atmosphere, but no injuries or deaths were
reported as a result. However, the disaster had a significant impact on the public's perception of nuclear power
and the regulation of the nuclear industry in the United States. It is considered to be the most serious nuclear
accident in the history of the United States.
Here is a summary of the chain of events that led to the disaster:
On the morning of March 28, a valve in the Unit 2 reactor at the Three Mile Island plant failed to close
properly, causing a loss of coolant in the reactor.
The loss of coolant caused the reactor's fuel rods to overheat, leading to a partial meltdown of the core.
As the fuel rods overheated, they released radioactive gas into the atmosphere.
The plant's operators attempted to release steam from the reactor to reduce pressure, but a valve became
stuck, causing a build-up of pressure in the reactor.
The build-up of pressure caused the plant's emergency cooling system to activate, leading to the release of
more radioactive gas into the atmosphere.
The disaster prompted the evacuation of hundreds of people from the surrounding area and had a significant
impact on the public's perception of nuclear power and the regulation of the nuclear industry in the United
States. The cleanup and recovery efforts took several years to complete.
Three Mile Island accident (1979):
Other disasters:
1 . Windscale fire (1957): This was a nuclear accident that occurred at the
Windscale nuclear facility in the United Kingdom. The fire released
radioactive material into the environment, leading to widespread
contamination and the evacuation of over 10,000 people.
2 . Kyshtym disaster (1957): This was a nuclear accident that occurred at
the Mayak Production Association facility in Russia. The disas t er
released large amounts of radiation into the environment, leading to
widespread contamination and t he evacuation of over 10,000 people.
3 . SL-1 disaster (1961): This was a nuclear accident that occurred at the
United States Army's National Reactor Testing Station in Idaho. The
disaster resulted in the deaths of three people and the release of small
amounts of radiation into the environment.
4 . Palomares incident (1966): This was a nuclear accident that occurred
when a B-52 bomber carrying four hydrogen bombs crashed in Spain.
Three of the bombs were recovered, but the fourth was lost and not
found until several months later. The accident released small amounts
of radiation into the environment.
vision forward:
A vision for nuclear awareness might include the following goals:
1 . Promote education about the science and technology of nuclear
energy, including its potential benefits and risks.
2 . Encourage the responsible use and regulation of nuclear energy,
including the implementation of strict safety protocols and
emergency preparedness measures.
3 . Fost er dialogue and collaboration among various stakeholders,
including government agencies, industry professionals, and t he
public, to ensure that the potential risks and benefits of nuclear
energy are thoroughly considered.
4 . Work to address concerns about the disposal of nuclear waste
and the potential environmental impacts of nuclear energy.
5 . Support research and development efforts to advance the safety
and sustainability of nuclear energy.
6 . Promote the responsible use of nuclear technologies for peaceful
purposes, such as medical treatments and research.
References:
1 . "The Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: An Overview" by the International
Atomic Energy Agency:
[Link]
overview
2 . "The Three Mile Island Acc ident: A Chronology" by the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission: [Link]
collections/fact-sheets/[Link]
3 . "Chernobyl: A Summary of the Accident and Its Consequences" by the
World Health Organization:
[Link]
4 . "The Chernobyl Disaster Explained" by Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell:
[Link]
5 . "Fukushima: A Nuclear Disaster Explained" by Science Insider:
[Link]
6 . "The Three Mile Island Accident: A Retrospective" by the Institute of
Nuclear Power Operations: [Link]
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