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On March 28, 1979, the worst nuclear accident in U.S. history occurred at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, which triggered profound thoughts on the degree of operator readiness and the effectiveness of emergency measures.At four o'clock in the morning, when the second reactor on Three Mile Island (TMI-2) was running to 97% power, the accident broke out suddenly, which then caused some of the nuclear fuel to melt.
"The fundamental reason for this accident is the failure of the non-nuclear auxiliary system, which in turn triggers the loss of coolant."
The fundamental cause of the accident is the problems faced by operators when solving the clogged condensate filter.These filters are used to remove impurities in the secondary circuit water, hindering the flow of water and the transfer of heat.However, the operator made a mistake and failed to identify the severity of the situation in time.
"The lack of effective training for operators has caused them to not correctly recognize that this is a coolant loss accident (LOCA)."
At the beginning of the accident, the operators failed to recognize the complexity of the mechanical failure, their misjudgment aggravated the aggravation of the accident.The loss of coolant in the reactor causes the pressure to rise. When the pressure reaches a certain level, the safety valve will automatically open. This should have been a warning, but it did not attract the operator's attention.
The development of accidents
As the water level and pressure of the reactor were abnormal over several minutes, the situation faced by the operator became more and more complicated.Due to the confusion of the reactor design defects and the operating interface, the operator failed to correctly understand the status displayed by the display.Operators have not been trained to make the correct judgment.
"In this accident, the design defects of the control system and the improper configuration of the operating interface are undoubtedly the key factors that lead to the worsening of the accident."
About 80 minutes after the accident, vapor bubbles began to appear inside the reactor, which triggered the phenomenon of nuclear fuel melting.When most of the fuel is exposed to high temperatures, a violent chemical reaction occurs inside the reactor, which causes the radioactive substance to be released into the coolant.The operator's evaluation error at this critical moment directly led to disastrous consequences.
Initial Response and Crisis Management
After the accident, the chaos of operators and the lack of management teams made emergency response measures not implemented in a timely manner.Even when the emergency statement of the accident came, the government and the public did not clearly disseminate the truth of the accident. Instead, there were conflicting information, increasing panic.
"The confusion in information transmission after the accident undoubtedly exacerbated public uneasiness."
As time passed, nuclear energy regulators responded slightly slower, and the effectiveness of their response to the accident was questioned.The judgment of the accident by all parties and the determination of the truth have become important topics in subsequent discussions.The poorly effective emergency system and the hesitation of the operators have delayed the delivery of correct information again and again.
Accident consequences and reflections
The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident caused the release of a variety of radioactive materials, but the ultimate impact was not due to radiation, but the public's panic and trust issues.As the investigation of the accident deepened, many previously unrecognized system design flaws and operational errors emerged, emphasizing the importance of attaching importance to personnel training and emergency preparedness.
"This accident proves that the strengthening of personnel training and safety systems remains the top priority of the nuclear energy industry."
As the research on the Three Mile Island accident deepened, nuclear energy attitudes gradually changed.Although technological progress continues, the influence of human factors cannot be ignored.From this tragedy, can we learn from the lessons and further strengthen our attention in risk management and operational training?
