How does a nuclear power plant generate electricity? Where does the radiation come from when there are failures?
In: Chemistry
Current nuclear power plants operate by maintaining a controlled nuclear fission reaction in its core. The breakdown of Uranium produces heat, which heats water to steam, and that steam turns a turbine and generator to produce electricity.
The radiation from a failure comes from contaminated cooling water (containing radioactive material) and materials from the core.
At Chernobyl the reactor exploded due to a design flaw and inadequate safety precautions. This explosion spread nuclear material over much of Europe.
A meltdown occurs when the core cannot be cooled down adequately enough and melts the surrounding core. Modern nuclear facilities have numerous safety features to prevent this from allowing nuclear material in the core from escaping into the atmosphere.
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