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Chernobyl RBMK-1000 Reactor Incident

The document summarizes the Chernobyl nuclear incident that occurred on April 26, 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. A scheduled test resulted in an unexpected power surge that caused a reactor explosion and fire. The incident was caused by unqualified personnel conducting an experiment that removed control rods, causing the reactor output to spike and lead to the meltdown. The explosion and fire released massive amounts of radiation, contaminating over 30,000 square kilometers and forcing over 300,000 people to be resettled. Estimates of deaths from the incident vary widely from 10,000 to over 200,000. The area around Chernobyl remains uninhabited due to high radiation levels.

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446 views11 pages

Chernobyl RBMK-1000 Reactor Incident

The document summarizes the Chernobyl nuclear incident that occurred on April 26, 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. A scheduled test resulted in an unexpected power surge that caused a reactor explosion and fire. The incident was caused by unqualified personnel conducting an experiment that removed control rods, causing the reactor output to spike and lead to the meltdown. The explosion and fire released massive amounts of radiation, contaminating over 30,000 square kilometers and forcing over 300,000 people to be resettled. Estimates of deaths from the incident vary widely from 10,000 to over 200,000. The area around Chernobyl remains uninhabited due to high radiation levels.

Uploaded by

crkenyon1511
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • The Chernobyl Incident: An introduction to the Chernobyl disaster, setting the stage for the event's discussion.
  • RBMK-1000 Reactor: Diagram and explanation of the reactor design involved in the Chernobyl accident.
  • Prelude: Describes the procedure prior to the incident, emphasizing the intended test process.
  • Unforeseen Consequences: Lists cause and effect factors that contributed to the disaster, highlighting planning and execution failures.
  • The Incident: Describes the chain of events that led to the catastrophic explosion at Chernobyl.
  • Post-Explosion Imagery: Photographic evidence of the power plant after the explosion, illustrating the destruction.
  • Inside the Reactor: Images from inside the damaged reactor, showing the aftermath of the explosion.
  • Radiation: Explains the radiation levels at Chernobyl, effects on environment and health impact on local areas.
  • The Aftermath: Discusses long-term impacts of the disaster including resettlement, contamination, and government response.
  • Chernobyl Today: Current status of the Chernobyl area, reflecting changes since the incident.
  • The End?: Conclusive thoughts on Chernobyl's legacy and unanswered questions concerning its impact.

THE CHERNOBYL INCIDENT

written and presented by Charlie Kenyon


RBMK-1000 REACTOR
PRELUDE

Regularly scheduled test for an RBMK-1000

Nuclear shuts down, diesels kick in

Spinning down turbine keeps water flowing

If all goes according to plan, no interruption
UNFORSEEN CONSEQUENCES
CAUSE EFFECT
• Postponement 2. Loss of Qualified Plant
Employees
3. Unqualified Folk 3. Unprogrammed Computer
4. Programming Failure 4. Reactor drops to >5%
5. Sudden drop in output 5. Control rods removed
6. Output rises slightly • Experiment begins
4/23/1986 @ 1:23 AM
THE INCIDENT

low output = slow turbine


slow turbine = no pumps
no pumps = no coolant water
no coolant water = runaway reaction
power output increases tenfold
steam explosion / graphite fire

Car Engine Analogy


RADIATION

Lethal Dose of Radiation:


500 roentgen over 5 hours
Estimated Radiation at Chernobyl:
2,000 roentgen per hour
Pripyat Evacuated
Red Forest Ruined
300,000 resettled
30,000 km² contaminated
Death Toll Estimates Wildly Vary
between 10,000 and 200,000 dead
Soviet Cover-Up
CHERNOBYL TODAY
Zone of Occlusion
Red Forest
1 roentgen per hour
Lack of Human Life
THE END?

THE CHERNOBYL INCIDENT written and presented by Charlie Kenyon
RBMK-1000 REACTOR
PRELUDE PRELUDE Regularly scheduled test for an RBMK-1000 Regularly scheduled test for an RBMK-1000 Nuclear shuts down,
UNFORSEEN CONSEQUENCES CAUSE CAUSE • Postponement Postponement 3. 3. Unqualified Folk Unqualified Folk 4. 4. Programming
THE INCIDENT THE INCIDENT low output = slow turbine low output = slow turbine slow turbine = no pumps slow turbine = no p
RADIATION Lethal Dose of Radiation: Lethal Dose of Radiation: 500 roentgen over 5 hours 500 roentgen over 5 hours Estimat
300,000 resettled 300,000 resettled 30,000 km 30,000 km² contaminated ² contaminated Death Toll Estimates Wildly Vary Dea
CHERNOBYL TODAY Zone of Occlusion Red Forest 1 roentgen per hour Lack of Human Life

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