Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant

by Jesse, Lizzie, and Sebastian

Three Big Questions

1. What happened?

2. Are there still dangers?

3. What have we learned?

Distance

Fukushima is about 6,562 miles (10560 km) from Newton

What happened? (Causes)

• massive earthquake knocked out electricity

 • back-up generators

damaged by tsunami

Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant before the disaster

What happened?

• in one reactor, cooling system failed• both backup systems failed and there was a

meltdown

What happened?

• seawater had to be pumped cool the radioactive material

• explosions in other reactors followed

What happened?

Nuclear equations The Fukushima plant used Uranium 235 235            0       235    U----->  E +      Np92           -1      93

Used in similar reactors Plutonium 239

239             0       239    Pu----->  E +    Am94            -1

Response

• Japanese Government  originally evacuated a 20km zone

• additional areas to the northwest were later evacuated

Response

• Workers went near plant to clean waste

  • Health effects,

including death, from this

Radioactive Fallout

• less released than Chernobyl, faster rate• still significant amount • poses a danger• 400 billion neutrons where released

Radioactive Fallout

• spread of radiation based on global wind currents

• radioactive isotopes also released into Pacific

Radioactive Fallout in the U.S.

• Effects not reached East Coast• Fallout has been measured in California• No harmful levels

Health Effects From Fukushima

Health Effects From Fukushima

Japanese Government will announce when citizens can return to their houses in early 2012.

Fukushima in the News

Reporters notified via Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency 

Government Response

• countries reviewing safety measures

• some are phasing out nuclear power

former Prime Minister Naoto Kan speaking about the disaster

Containing Nuclear Waste

• solidify in glass• sealed in stainless

containers• buried 300 meters

nuclear waste research facilities

Containing Nuclear Waste

It will take 100,000 years for radiation in waste to decline to safe levels

Could this happen in the US?

• 104 plants inspected

• Watts Bar:• emergency responder

training• control panels• communication

equipment• backup generators

Watts bar Plant in Spring City, Tennessee

What we've learned

• more preparation in Japan for quakes, tsunamis, power failures

 • better back-up safety

systems

Could "Fukushima" happen here?

• Possible - controversial aspects, similar design • Lower chance of quake/tsunami

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