History of Nuclear Power Plant Accidents



Abstract

The Nuclear Power Plants is always a very comprehensive topic to discuss includes several types of Nuclear Power Plant and accidents occurred in history. One common discussion now a day is the history of accidents and information about Nuclear Power Plant. This paper aims at discussing the history of Nuclear Power Plant Accidents. It has highlighted brief introduction about Nuclear Power Plant and some of the major accidents are also elaborated. This paper will also discuss the accidents of Fukushima and Chernobyl along with their consequences.

History of Nuclear Power Plant Accidents

Introduction

Nuclear Power Plant is actually a Power Station which is started in 20th Century. Nuclear Power Plant initially developed at the time of Second World War in 1940 and started its operation in 1950. Nuclear Energy plays a very essential role when it comes to electrical energy which provides electricity to half of the world. More than 30 countries in this world are getting nuclear- generated power from Nuclear Energy. Now a day there are above 60 more Nuclear Power Reactor which are under construction and 17% of energy presently exists. Today, in 30 countries there are above 440 existing commercial nuclear energy which are being operated with the capacity of 377,000 MWe. This range of Nuclear Plant shares a few percent in some of the countries and more than 75% in France.

Nuclear Power Plants also occurs many accidents for certain reasons but the main factor is usually due to certain human errors. In some cases accidents happen for the reason of defective and faulty equipments. No power plants are considered as 100 percent full proof (Kivi, 2010). Due to that accidents union of concerned scientists (UCS) maintained strict and direct control on the accessibility of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) for normal civilian people because it is basically used for making weapons and apparently weapons are the reason for many causalities. According to Union of Concerned Scientists (2012) soon after the Cold War, terrorism and nuclear explosion took place in order to protect people from other nuclear disasters.

Overview of Nuclear Power Plant Accidents

Nuclear Power Plant accidents initially took place after the Cold War in order to protect common people from nuclear disaster. There is not a particular reason of nuclear power plant accidents but usually it occurs due to certain human errors and defective equipments.

In 1950's 14% of global needed electricity which includes more than 30 countries so, the electricity produced in a number of amounts from nuclear energy.

The initial idea of generating bomb focused during the Second World War by dividing the atoms of plutonium or uranium.

Now a day, more than 60 nuclear power reactors are going to be constructed which are of 17% accessible aptitude, whereas 150 are presently accessible which are of 46% (WNA, 2011).

Nuclear Power Plants Accidents

Nuclear Power Plants accident occurs due to certain human errors and defected machines. It causes around 600-1000 deaths on an average from one million people in a year and 80% of ...