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0: 1. Normal operation at Daiichi
In operation since the early 1970s, Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant uses six boiling water reactors, which rely on uranium nuclear fission to generate heat. Water surrounding the core boils into steam that drives turbines to generate electricity.
The reactor vessel is surrounded by a thick steel-and-concrete primary containment vessel, equipped with a water reservoir designed to suppress overheating of the vessel.
Seawater is pumped into a condensor that precipitates the steam into water, which is pumped back to the reactor.
Más sobre 1. Normal operation at Daiichi1: 2. Earthquake damage
The earthquake initiated a rapid shutdown of the reactors, but the disaster cut power to controls and pumps, and the tsunami disabled backup generators. New diesel generators were delivered after batteries used to control the operation of the reactor were exhausted.
Since the quake hit, fuel rods in the cores of reactor 1, 2 and 3 have overheated because of a lack of cooling water.
Más sobre 2. Earthquake damage2: 3. Trying to cool the reactors
Cores in units 1, 2 and 3 heated up to the extent that the zirconium covering the fuel reacted with steam, releasing hydrogen gas. Hydrogen collected in the secondary containment buildings, where it exploded, blowing the tops off units 1 and 3, and damaging the cooling system of unit 2.
Primary containment vessels in units 1 and 3 are reportedly intact, but a structure in unit 2 has cracked, preventing water from fully covering the core.
Attempting to cool the cores, engineers are flooding cores and their containment vessels with seawater and boric acid, which acts to dampen fission reactions.
Más sobre 3. Trying to cool the reactors3: 4. Two worst-case scenarios
If engineers are unable to cool a damaged fuel core, enriched uranium can melt into a pool of radioactive lava, which can burn its way out of the containment vessel or send radioactive steam out through cracks in the system.
Cooling spent fuel is critical, for if it becomes exposed, an inextinguishable zirconium fire can break out and spew massive amounts of radiation.
According to nuclear analyst Kenneth D. Bergeron, the containment
vessels at Daiichi are stronger than Chernobyl but not as robust as Three Mile Island.
Más sobre 4. Two worst-case scenarios