The Three Mile Island Accident Essay -- Essays Papers

The Three Mile Island AccidentWhen someone thinks of problems plaguing the world, nuclear energy is not the first social occasion that comes to peoples minds these days.1nuclear power was once deemed the new energy of the future.2However, numerous nuclear power plant accidents around the world put a damper on that notion.The joined States considers itself one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, but 103 nuclear reactors currently operating within her borders, one was bound to fail sometime or another.3 Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Station is on an island that is located about 10 miles from the town of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.The plant housed two nuclear reactors, Unit 1 and Unit 2.Now there is only one that is operable, Unit 1.4A week or two before the accident a movie called the China Syndrome was released.This movie was about the possible aftermath resulting from nuclear reactor meltdown.Coincidentally, Unit 2 was in trouble a little while after.5Aroun d 400 a.m. March 28, 1979, in a non-nuclear section of the Unit 2 plant, the main feed wet pumps stopped running.Because of this malfunction, steam generators were not able to remove the heat.This led to complicated mountain range of events.First, as designed, the turbine shut down, followed by the reactor itself.This led to a rise in the pressure, so the pressurized relief valve opened, just like it was supposed to do.However, when the pressure reduced to accepted levels, the valve should have closed, instead it remained open, it was stuck.This led to a continued decrease in the pressure of the system.6Also, in another part of the plant, the emergency feed water system failed to operate because of a human error the valve was left closed whe... ...21.2 Lavelle, Marianne.When the World Stopped.U.S. News and World Report, 29 March, 1999, p. 38.3 substantiate Lavelle p. 38.4 Nuclear Disasters andAccidents http//library.thinkquest.org/17940/texts/nuclear_disasters/nuclear_dis asters.html (1 March 2000).5 Denton, Harold. incubus at Three Mile Island.George, March 1999, p. 48.6 Nuclear Disasters andAccidents http//library.thinkquest.org/17940/texts/nuclear_disasters/nuclear_disasters.html (1 March 2000).7 Nuclear Regulatory Commision. Three Mile Island 2 Accident http//www.nrc.gov/OPA/gmo/tip/tmi.htm (1 March 2000).8 See Nuclear Regulatory Commission9 See Nuclear Regulatory Commission10 See Nuclear Regulatory Commission11 See Lavelle p. 3812 See Nuclear Regulatory Commission13 See Nuclear Regulatory Commission