Is that bad?
2007-08-11 01:25:10 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
It's not good, but as others have said, a nuclear plant is designed for particularly such an eventuality.
One thing no one has mentioned: A tornado HAS hit a nuclear plant. In 1998, Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station lost off-site power due to a tornado touching down on site.
In 1992, the eye of Hurricane Andrew (a Cat 5 Hurricane) went directly over Turkey Point Generating Station (2 coal and 2 nuclear plants). I don't remember if any tornadoes explicitly touched down there, but it doesn't get much worse than that.
Both plants survived the experiences with limited/no damage to safety related equipment.
2007-08-15 08:58:24 · answer #1 · answered by Alfredo22 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, the nuclear power plant is design to withstand potential natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods. Tornadoes are a part of the design considerations at the Arkansas Nuclear One facility in Russellville, Ark., a state that averages 19 twisters a year.
Don't believe? Check this.
2007-08-11 02:32:14 · answer #2 · answered by jason 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
We used to worry about this.
Most likely, the tornado would take out power lines or the substation. This would be a "Loss of Offsite Power". The generator would trip, and the steam from the reactor would probably get dumped into a large pool of water, inside the reactor building, which is very tornado-proof. This would automatically trigger a scram, but it would take awhile for the reactor to cool down and stop generating steam. It would take a while to get everything repaired so that the reactor could generate power again, but radiation offsite would be unlikely.
2007-08-11 07:02:29 · answer #3 · answered by A Guy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nuclear power plants are so constructed that a direct hit from the strongest possible tornado would do only light superficial damage.
Same goes for floods, earthquakes, jihadists, plane crashes, hurricanes, plaques of locusts, and man-eating cleavages.
2007-08-11 07:23:54 · answer #4 · answered by aviophage 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Not necesarily because only if the tornado went right through the power plant it would be bad but if it's a weak tornado and it didn't hit directly it wouldn't make a difference but if it was a major tornado it would do damage but not that much
2007-08-11 02:32:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
i would think a nuclear power plant is stronger than that. i hope so because i live about 15 miles from one!
2007-08-11 02:49:45 · answer #6 · answered by Cindy K 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, if it exposes the nuclear reactor. My guess is those who build them considered that possibility and made the necessary adjustments already. But then again who can be sure about any outcome, anything is possible........we're only humans..............Let's just say....expect the unexpected!
2007-08-18 09:42:42 · answer #7 · answered by hungrykong 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not in this country any way. nuke plants are built to withstand a direct hit from most missles nukes excluded. and if power were to getshut down from it it would use back up to shut itself down.
2007-08-16 16:02:12 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no as long as it is EU certified i red a article the other day and in japan (they are backwards) it is disaster waiting to happen
2007-08-11 01:35:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well, I don't believe it would be Top Notch...
2007-08-18 02:15:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋