Chernobyl

An Overview
CONTENT

• INTRODUCTION
• NUCLEAR ENERGY
• TYPES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY
• PROS AND CONS OF NUCLEAR EENERGY
• HISTORY OF NUCLEAR ENERGY
• HOW DOES A POWER PLANT WORK
• CASE STUDY: CHERNOBYL
• IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
• FUTURE FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY
 NUCLEAR ENERGY

• Nuclear energy is a form of energy released from the nucleus, the core of atoms, made up of protons and neutrons.
• This source of energy can be produced in two ways:
Fission – when nuclei of atoms split into several parts
Fusion – when nuclei fuse together.
• The nuclear energy harnessed around the world today to produce electricity is through nuclear fission, while technology
to generate electricity from fusion is at the R&D phase.
NUCLEAR FISSION

• Nuclear fission is a reaction where the nucleus of an atom

splits into two or more smaller nuclei, while releasing energy.
• For instance, when hit by a neutron, the nucleus of an atom of
uranium-235 splits into two smaller nuclei, a barium nucleus
and a krypton nucleus and two or three neutrons.

• These extra neutrons will hit other surrounding uranium-235 atoms, which will also split and generate
additional neutrons in a multiplying effect, thus generating a chain reaction in a fraction of a second.
• Each time the reaction occurs, there is a release of energy in the form of heat and radiation. The heat can be
converted into electricity in a nuclear power plant, similarly to how heat from fossil fuels such as coal, gas
and oil
 NUCLEAR FUSION

• Nuclear fusion is the process by which two light atomic

nuclei combine to form a single heavier one while releasing
massive amounts of energy.
• Fusion reactions take place in a state of matter called plasma
— a hot, charged gas made of positive ions and free-moving
electrons with unique properties distinct from solids, liquids
or gases.
 WORKING OF A NUCLEAR ENERGY

• Nuclear power plants heat water to produce steam. The steam is used to spin large turbines that generate electricity.
Nuclear power plants use heat produced during nuclear fission to heat water.
• In nuclear fission, atoms are split apart to form smaller atoms, releasing energy. Fission takes place inside the reactor of a
nuclear power plant. At the center of the reactor is the core, which contains uranium fuel cells.
• The uranium fuel is formed into ceramic pellets. Each ceramic pellet produces about the same amount of energy as 150
gallons of oil. These energy-rich pellets are stacked end-to-end in 12-foot metal fuel rods. A bundle of fuel rods, some
with hundreds of rods, is called a fuel assembly. A reactor core contains many fuel assemblies.
• The heat produced during nuclear fission in the reactor core is used to boil water into steam, which turns the blades of a
steam turbine. As the turbine blades turn, they drive generators that make electricity. Nuclear plants cool the steam back
into water in a separate structure at the power plant called a cooling tower, or they use water from ponds, rivers, or the
ocean. The cooled water is then reused to produce steam
 ADVANTAGES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

CLEAN ENERGY SOURCE

• Nuclear is the largest source of clean power in the United States. It generates nearly 800 billion kilowatt hours of electricity each year and
produces more than half of the nation’s emissions-free electricity. This avoids more than 470 million metric tons of carbon each year, which
is the equivalent of removing 100 million cars off of the road.

HIGH POWER OUTPUT

• Nuclear power plants produce high levels of energy compared to most power sources , which makes them a great provider of baseload
electricity. Nuclear is a prime candidate for replacing current baseload electricity sources that contribute significantly to air pollution, such
as large coal plants.
IT IS INEXPENSIVE
• Nuclear power is generally considered to be the safest and most efficient energy source for generating electricity. This source of power is
used to power almost 20% of the world.
• It’s one of the most inexpensive and environmentally-friendly sources of energy. In 2018, the cost of nuclear power was just $35/MWh. This
is less than half the cost of coal- and gas-fired power plants. The price of nuclear power will be even more competitive in the future.

IT IS ENVIRONMENTLLY FRIENDLY
• Nuclear power is an efficient and environmentally safe energy source. It doesn’t produce greenhouse gases and can be used in a wide range
of applications.
• Nuclear power plants do not produce any significant amount of greenhouse gases or pollutants. This energy source is safer and more cost-
effective than fossil fuels such as coal and gas. It’s one of the cleanest and most inexpensive energy sources on earth.
LESS FUEL CONSUMPTION

• Compared to other sources of power, nuclear energy is superior in many ways. This energy source is affordable and accessible. It doesn’t
require too much fuel to produce energy.

• This means that it doesn’t produce a lot of harmful emissions during the process. Compared to other sources of energy, nuclear energy is a
clean and safe alternative.

• The amount of fuel needed to generate one MWh of power is quite small. The fuel generally used is uranium which is only 0.7 mm in
diameter. It takes only a few seconds to load a fuel rod.

IT IS STABLE

• Nuclear energy is inherently stable. It has far less risk than other energy sources. This energy source is also inexpensive, reliable, and
efficient.
• Uranium is a naturally-occurring element that is found in the earth’s crust. It’s a non-renewable but inexhaustible source of energy.
DISADVANTAGES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

Radioactive waste:
• A nuclear power plant annually generates 20 metric tons of used nuclear fuel, classified as high-level radioactive waste. When you take into
account every nuclear plant on Earth, the combined total climbs to roughly 2,000 metric tons a year. All of this waste emits radiation and
heat, meaning that it will eventually corrode any container that holds it. It can also prove lethal to nearby life forms. Nuclear power plants
produce a great deal of low-level radioactive waste in the form of radiated parts and equipment.

Risk of accidents:
• Although nuclear power plants are designed with stringent safety measures, accidents can still occur, as demonstrated by incidents like the
Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and the Fukushima Daiichi accident in 2011.

High initial cost and long construction times:

• As per EIA, Advanced nuclear reactors are estimated to cost $5,366 for every kilowatt of capacity. That means a large 1-gigawatt reactor
would cost around $5.4 billion(540 crore INR) to build, excluding financing costs. By contrast, a new wind farm costs just $1,980 per
kilowatt
DISADVANTAGES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

Public perception and opposition:

• Nuclear energy often faces public skepticism and opposition due to concerns about safety, radioactive waste, and the potential for accidents.

Decommissioning challenges:

• When a nuclear power plant reaches the end of its operational life, decommissioning becomes necessary. The decommissioning process
involves safely dismantling and decontaminating the plant, which can be a complex and expensive task.
HISTORY OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

• Uranium was discovered in 1789 by Martin Klaproth, a German chemist, and named after the planet Uranus.

• At the end of 1938 Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann in Berlin showed that the new lighter elements were barium and
others which were about half the mass of uranium, thereby demonstrating that atomic fission had occurred. They
calculated the energy release from this fission as about 200 million electron volts. Frisch then confirmed this figure
experimentally in January 1939.

• The first use of nuclear energy was Further research by the allies(USA,UK,Sovet union) during the word war 2 against
the axis power (Germany,Japan,Itally).

• The research in USA was done under the Manhattan project which made development of use of nuclear energy for
various purpose. This project also developed atomic booms which were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the
WW2 [little boy, fat man].
CASE STUDY : CHERNOBYL

ROOT CASUSE

Test and Power Surge:

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, located near Pripyat, Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union), was conducting
a safety test on Reactor 4.
The test involved simulating a power outage and assessing the ability of the reactor's turbines to provide power for
the cooling systems during a shutdown.
During the test, operators initiated a series of actions that led to a dangerous power surge in the reactor.
Steam Explosion and Fire:

The power surge caused a steam explosion within the reactor, leading to a subsequent fire.
The explosion destroyed the reactor's core, ruptured the reactor vessel, and blew off the reactor's concrete lid,
exposing the core to the atmosphere.

Radioactive Release:

The explosion and fire released a large amount of radioactive material into the atmosphere, including iodine-131,
cesium-137, and strontium-90.
The release of radioactive particles resulted in the formation of a radioactive plume that spread over large areas,
contaminating the environment.
Emergency Response:

Plant workers initially attempted to extinguish the fire and contain the radioactive release, unaware of the full extent
of the disaster.
Emergency services were called to the scene, and firefighters arrived to extinguish the fire and limit further damage.
The whole town of Pripyat was evacuated under 12 hrs. of the disaster it was a huge town build just 3 miles away
from the reactor.
Later after the fire was out Chernobyl liquidators were called who were civilians and military personal to clear up the
mess caused by this disaster .later most of these liquidators experienced sever radiation shock and died after a few
days.
THE CLEAN UP
The complete clean up process took over 3 years that is the removal of top layer of the soil and removal all fauna present in the area and
removal of the Debry and the cleaning up of the site.
During the three years the whole plant was cleaned and a sarcophagus was built over the collapsed reactor which contained the radiation
released and the rest 3 plants where back to operation.And in the year 1998 a new steel structure was build to protect the reactor.
SOURCE BY:
RFE/EL
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

• Contamination of the Surrounding Area: The immediate vicinity around the

Chernobyl plant was heavily contaminated with radioactive materials,
primarily radioactive isotopes of iodine, cesium, and strontium. This
contamination spread over a large area, affecting parts of Ukraine,Belarus,
and Russia.

• Evacuation and Exclusion Zone: In the aftermath of the disaster, an

exclusion zone was established around the Chernobyl plant. The zone, Map of Europe and the Chernobyl exclusion zone
Chernobyl nuclear power plant (Chernobyl NNP) is noted by a
star (National Geographic Society, 2006, Google Earth, 2012).
covering approximately 2,600 square kilometers, was evacuated, and
SOURCE BY :https://www.researchgate.net/
people were relocated. The area remains largely uninhabited to this day due
to the high levels of radiation
• Health Effects: The Chernobyl disaster had serious health consequences for the people exposed to the radiation. Acute
radiation sickness affected the plant workers and firefighters who responded to the initial accident. Long-term health
effects include increased risks of cancer, particularly thyroid cancer, as well as other illnesses such as cardiovascular
disease and cataracts.
• Wildlife Impact: The local flora and fauna were also
affected by the disaster. The radiation had a significant
impact on the ecosystem, including the genetic and
reproductive capabilities of plants and animals. Some
species suffered population declines, while others exhibited
mutations and abnormalities

An exhibit of a piglet with dipygus at the Ukrainian national Chernobyl

museum . It is possible that birth defects are higher in this area
• Contaminated Water and Soil: The radioactive materials released during the disaster contaminated the water bodies
and soil in the surrounding area. This contamination affected agricultural lands and made it difficult to grow crops.
Additionally, the contamination of water sources had implications for drinking water supplies

• Long-Term Environmental Impact: The effects of the Chernobyl disaster continue to be observed in the
environment. The radioactive isotopes released into the environment have long half-lives, which means they will
persist for many years. The contamination poses ongoing challenges for environmental remediation efforts and the
management of the exclusion zone
Economic cost :
Coping with the impact of the disaster has placed a huge burden on national budgets. In Ukraine, 5-7 % of
government spending each year is still devoted to Chernobyl-related benefits and programs.
• In Belarus, government spending on Chernobyl amounted to 22.3% of the national budget in 1991,
declining gradually to 6.1% in 2002. Total spending by Belarus on Chernobyl between 1991 and 2003 was
more than USD 13 billion.
A total of 784 320 hectares of agricultural land was removed from service in the three countries, and timber
production was halted for a total of 694 200 hectares of forest.
FUTURES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

• Advanced Reactor Technologies: The future of nuclear energy lies in advanced reactor technologies. These include
Generation IV reactors, such as molten salt reactors, high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, and small modular reactors.
These technologies offer enhanced safety features, improved fuel efficiency, and better waste management capabilities.
• Increased Safety Measures: Safety will continue to be a primary focus in the future of nuclear energy. Lessons learned
from past incidents, including Chernobyl and Fukushima, have led to more stringent safety protocols and regulations.
Advanced reactor designs incorporate passive cooling systems, improved fuel containment, and robust emergency
response plans to mitigate risks.
• Nuclear Fusion: Nuclear fusion, the process that powers the sun, holds immense promise for the future of energy
generation. Fusion reactors, such as tokamaks and stellarators, have the potential to provide clean, safe, and virtually
limitless energy. Though still in the experimental phase, significant advancements are being made towards achieving
controlled fusion reactions.
• Nuclear Waste Management: The future of nuclear energy involves continued research and development in nuclear
waste management. Advanced technologies, such as advanced fuel cycles, reprocessing, and transmutation, aim to
reduce the volume and toxicity of nuclear waste. Additionally, long-term storage solutions, such as deep geological
repositories, are being developed to ensure safe disposal of radioactive waste.

• Public Perception and Education: Educating the public about the benefits, safety, and advancements in nuclear energy
is crucial. Promoting transparency, addressing concerns, and fostering public engagement will help shape public
perception and support for nuclear energy as a viable option in the future.

• Reusing of nuclear waste: there are efforts to make use of nuclear waste such are using the same fuel cells by re
enriching the nuclear core these efforts are made possible by the efforts of the Argonne US national laboratory.
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