logihostx.blogg.se - Big reactor meltdown

Harnessing the world's most concentrated energy source The novelty value and hence newsworthiness of nuclear power accidents remains high in contrast with other industrial accidents, which receive comparatively little news coverage. The few accidents have been spectacular and newsworthy, but of little consequence in terms of human fatalities. With nuclear power, the high energy density makes the potential hazard obvious, and this has always been factored into the design of nuclear power plants. There is wide public acceptance that the risks associated with these industries are an acceptable trade-off for our dependence on their products and services. In the chemical industry and oil-gas industry, major accidents also lead to improved safety. The lessons from nearly one hundred years’ experience mean that reputable airlines are extremely safe. In civil aviation, there are accidents every year and each is meticulously analysed. No industry is immune from accidents, but all industries learn from them. It concerns mainly materials and equipment in relation to rogue governments (see information page on Safeguards to Prevent Nuclear Proliferation). Safeguarding focuses on restraining activities by states that could lead to acquisition or development of nuclear weapons.

It relates mainly to external threats to materials or facilities (ee information page on Security of Nuclear Facilities and Material).

Security focuses on the intentional misuse of nuclear or other radioactive materials by non-state elements to cause harm.

It relates mainly to intrinsic problems or hazards.

Safety focuses on unintended conditions or events leading to radiological releases from authorised activities.

In relation to nuclear power, safety is closely linked with security, and in the nuclear field also with safeguards. Radiological effects on people of any radioactive releases can be avoided. The consequences of an accident or terrorist attack are minimal compared with other commonly accepted risks. The risk of accidents in nuclear power plants is low and declining.

The evidence over six decades shows that nuclear power is a safe means of generating electricity.

These are the only major accidents to have occurred in over 18,500 cumulative reactor-years of commercial nuclear power operation in 36 countries.Chernobyl involved an intense fire without provision for containment, and Fukushima Daiichi severely tested the containment, allowing some release of radioactivity. There have been two major reactor accidents in the history of civil nuclear power – Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi.As in other industries, the design and operation of nuclear power plants aims to minimise the likelihood of accidents, and avoid major human consequences when they occur.From the outset, there has been a strong awareness of the potential hazard of both nuclear criticality and release of radioactive materials from generating electricity with nuclear power.