can anyone tell me what might happen if a strong enough EMP hit a nuclear reactor?

Question

i'm working on a book where something to that effect happens to save myself a lot of footwork i just thought i'd ask here

Answer 1

An electro magnetic pulse affects electrical and electronic equipment. A nuclear power station that would be hit by a strong enough EMP will first have is electronic control equipment and electrical power generating equipment damaged.
Since the safety systems present in nuclear reactor are fail safe and passive systems (like an electro-magnet keeping safety bars in position above the reactor core) the interruption of all power and control would immediately extinguish the reaction and safe the reactor to shutdown.
It will not (and really CANNOT) explode or meltdown in any event.
Sorry if this messes up your book.

Answer 2

In the real world Electromagnetic Pulse is like radio waves, and if powerful enough can infiltrate and fry integrated circuits. It can turn an unprotected PC into landfill in only a few microseconds.

The Achilles heel in the Nuclear (that's New-Klee-ehr in real lay English) power plant is the solid state control systems. Considering what's at stake and the possibility of the deployment of EMP weapons (they exist today) all power plants are very well shielded against EMP, whether accidental or intentional. There are also mechanical backup systems that can easily shut down the fission process in the event the control room is hit by any outside interference.
EMP would have no appreciable effect on the actual fission process.

Answer 3

Well first off i want to say that i am not a professional on Nuclear reactions nor am i on the physics of an EMP. I do belive that the EMP would not dirrectly effect the nuclear reaction. However this doesn't mean that it wouldn't affect the elctronics (i.e. the sensors, regulators, control systems) of the power plant and that is where the disaster would come from. I don't know if you need any more specifics. Good luck on your book.

Answer 4

well it would shut down all the controls. and if you cant control the place there would be a meltdown