The explosions were caused by hydrogen gas mixing with the atmosphere in a contained system, and exploding. There are two ways this could happen.
When the tsunami hit, it basically wiped out all the cooling, power, and backup infrastructure at the plant. This caused reactors 1, 2, and 3 to overheat, and the water in the vessels boiled off to some degree. This led to a increased pressure in the pressure vessel from the steam that was being produced, and the pressure had to be released. The boiling water also exposed the fuel rods, however, and the zircaloy cladding reacts with steam, when it gets hot enough. This reaction produces hydrogen gas, which also is vented. The hydrogen mixed with the atmosphere in the reactor buildings, creating an explosive environment.
In these reactors, and also in building 4, where the reactor was not fueled up, the water in the spent fuel pools was not circulating and boiled. This could have exposed fuel rods, and probably did so in building 4. These rods can react with steam just as the rods in the reactor would, with the same result.
The tsunami caused damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant resulting in a series of equipment failure, nuclear meltdows, and release of radioactive material into the environment.
Fukushima Daiichi (the worse accident) is located at 37° 25' 22.7" N 141° 01' 58.5" E. Fukushima Daini (the lesser accident) is located at 37° 18' 59" N 141° 01' 52" E.
The secondary effects of the Japan earthquake were fires, gas line explosions, and a resulting major tsunami, which in turn was responsible for damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Destruction to plumbing and sewer system could led to disease due to build up of waste. Additional secondary effects were collapsed bridges and other structures due to destabilization caused by the strong shaking.
The fuel rods are of uranium dioxide, with the uranium enriched to about 5% U-235
US scientists determined this tear that the reactor is still leaking small amounts of radioactive materials into the ocean. The cleanup for this disaster could take as long as 40 years.
Fukushima in Japan
Churnoble
There are two Fukushima power plants. Both are in the prefecture of Fukushima, Japan. The plant you have in mind is probably the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which experienced a series of meltdowns after an earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011. The other is the Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plant.
The EarthquakeTsunamiLack of Electricity to keep the power plants coolThey say that the lack of cooling was one of the main reasons for the nuclear plant explosions and the authorities are trying very hard to stop any radiation leak.
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Fukushima
Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant.
Construction for the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant started the 25th of July, 1967. The plant was built by Kajima Construction Corporation, Ltd. This is a Japanese construction company. Founded in 1840. Fukushima I was fully operational in the year 1971.
like any power plant
town
Fukushima Daiichi.
Fukushima is the name of a prefecture on Honshu Island, the largest island of Japan. It is also the name of a city in the prefecture. Fukushima became well known to many people because of a nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which is in Fukushima Prefecture.