How safe is nuclear reactors?

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are and if so how are todays nuclear reactors safer than the one used in Chernobyl accident?

In: Physics

Anonymous 0 Comments

Though minor accidents have occurred (Three Mile Island), nuclear reactors throughout the world are significantly safer than Chernobyl for 2 important reasons: 1) There are many more safety features designed into the systems to prevent major meltdowns. 2) Unlike Chernobyl, nuclear reactors in the rest of the world become less reactive the hotter they get, basically shutting themselves down if they get too hot.

Chernobyl’s reactor was designed to become more reactive the hotter it got, which basically created a nuclear feedback loop. The core ruptured so violently because it boiled too much coolant water into steam, and all of that steam pressure had to go somewhere, which was through the building.