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This book examines the three most well-known and socially important nuclear accidents. Each of these accidents had significant, yet dramatically different, human and environmental impacts. Unique factors helped shape the overall pattern and scale of each disaster, but a major contributing factor was the different designs used for each reactor. Fukushima was a boiling water reactor (BWR), Chernobyl was a graphite moderated boiling water reactor, and TMI was a pressurized water reactor (PWR). This book traces the history of nuclear power and the development of each reactor type. We examine how GE's work with a sodium cooled design did not fare well with the US Navy, and led GE to promulgate the BWR design. We explore the Russian atomic bomb program, its use of graphite moderated reactors, and their design modifications to create power production units. We trace the developments in the US that led the US Navy to select the PWR design, and caused the PWR to be used for nearly 2/3 of all UScommercial reactors. In sum, the book uses the three major nuclear accidents as a lens to trace the technological history of nuclear energy production and to link these developments with long-term societal and environmental consequences. The book is intended for readers with an interest in nuclear power and nuclear disasters. The detailed and compelling account will appeal to both the expert and the interested lay-person.
List of contents
Fukushima, Chernobyl and Three Mile Island, How we got there.- Chapter 1. Nuclear Fundamentals.- Chapter 2.Fukushima, design facts.- Chapter 3.Great Japan Earthquake and Fukushima accident history Eg Units 5 & 6 untouched by tsunami, because cliff was not removed for them Ge design, back up turbine/generator in basement Recovery effort status.- Chapter 4.Fukushima Daiichi today.- Chapter 5 BWR design history, why GE, Borax experiments GE, Vallecitos, Dresden GE design duplicated at Fukushima, including diesels in basement.- Chapter 6.Zircalloy clad fuel elements, history, H2O electrolysis at high temp, H2 gen.- Chapter 7. station blackout previously considered non credible accident.- Chapter 8.Chernobyl accident history.- Chapter 9.Graphite moderated reactor Russian history, Chicago pile to weapons production.- Chapter 10.Leningrad and other RBMK problems, precursor to Chernobyl disaster.- Chapter 11.TMI.- Chapter 12. PWR selected because of USnavy preference.- Chapter 13.Conclusion.
Summary
This book examines the three most well-known and socially important nuclear accidents. Each of these accidents had significant, yet dramatically different, human and environmental impacts. Unique factors helped shape the overall pattern and scale of each disaster, but a major contributing factor was the different designs used for each reactor. Fukushima was a boiling water reactor (BWR), Chernobyl was a graphite moderated boiling water reactor, and TMI was a pressurized water reactor (PWR). This book traces the history of nuclear power and the development of each reactor type. We examine how GE’s work with a sodium cooled design did not fare well with the US Navy, and led GE to promulgate the BWR design. We explore the Russian atomic bomb program, its use of graphite moderated reactors, and their design modifications to create power production units. We trace the developments in the US that led the US Navy to select the PWR design, and caused the PWR to be used for nearly 2/3 of all UScommercial reactors. In sum, the book uses the three major nuclear accidents as a lens to trace the technological history of nuclear energy production and to link these developments with long-term societal and environmental consequences. The book is intended for readers with an interest in nuclear power and nuclear disasters. The detailed and compelling account will appeal to both the expert and the interested lay-person.
