Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima : Curse of the Nuclear Genie

"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 US commercial 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."--Publisher's description. "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 US commercial 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."-- Amazon.com Contents 5 Glossary 7 Chapter 1: How Do Nuclear Reactors Work? 9 Introduction 9 Nuclear Basics 10 References 21 Chapter 2: Why Pressurized Water? 22 The Origins of the PWR 22 References 35 Chapter 3: Three Mile Island 36 Introduction 36 The TMI Accident 41 References 48 Chapter 4: Russian Reactor Design History 49 Introduction 49 References 59 Chapter 5: Chernobyl Accident 60 RBMK Reactor Design 60 The Chernobyl Accident 64 References 71 Chapter 6: Why Boiling Water? 72 The Development of BWRs 72 References 81 Chapter 7: Fukushima Daiichi Development and Operation Prior to Great East Japan Earthquake 82 Building the Fukushima Power Plant 82 References 93 Chapter 8: The Great East Japan Earthquake and Its Immediate Effects on Fukushima 95 Introduction 95 References 100 Chapter 9: Fukushima Daiichi Today 101 Overview 101 Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1 101 Fukushima Daiichi Unit 2 102 Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3 103 Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4 104 Fukushima Daiichi Units 5 and 6 105 The General Fukushima Daiichi Site Area 105 Fukushima Prefecture 106 References 107 Chapter 10: Nuclear Fuel, Cladding, and the “Discovery” of Zirconium 109 Introduction 109 References 118 Chapter 11: Summary 119 Fermi’s Chicago Pile 1 119 TMI 119 Chernobyl 121 Fukushima 122 References 124 Front Matter....Pages i-viii How Do Nuclear Reactors Work?....Pages 1-13 Why Pressurized Water?....Pages 15-28 Three Mile Island....Pages 29-41 Russian Reactor Design History....Pages 43-53 Chernobyl Accident....Pages 55-66 Why Boiling Water?....Pages 67-76 Fukushima Daiichi Development and Operation Prior to Great East Japan Earthquake....Pages 77-89 The Great East Japan Earthquake and Its Immediate Effects on Fukushima....Pages 91-96 Fukushima Daiichi Today....Pages 97-104 Nuclear Fuel, Cladding, and the “Discovery” of Zirconium....Pages 105-114 Summary....Pages 115-120