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Fukushima Daiichi was destroyed by a loss of coolant accident (LOCA) caused by the tsunami which was caused by the earthquake.
The earthquake caused the three operating units (three were operating, two were shutdown, and one was defueled) to automatically shutdown, as designed. Emergency cooling systems started up, also as designed. 41 minutes later, the tsunami occurred, and was much larger than expected, and it incapacitated the emergency diesel generators and damaged most of the emergency cooling system switchgear.
Battery power remained, and partial emergency cooling continued for awhile, but with no way to recharge the batteries, emergency cooling failed.
Even though the reactors were shutdown and not producing full power, there was decay heat caused by mixed fission byproducts, which accounts for about 7% of full power, for a significant period of time after shutdown. This decay heat is sufficient to overheat the fuel and cause damage unless the fuel is constantly cooled.
The same thing applies to the spent fuel stored in the fuel storage rack in the spent fuel pool. Even though not in the reactor, it still has decay heat which must be removed with fuel pool cooling, cooling that was lost when all power was lost. As a result, the spent fuel also overheated and was damaged.
Along the way, the hot zircalloy cladding on the fuel rods generated hydrogen gas in a reaction with water. Hydrogen gas in the nuclear steam cycle is normally removed with hydrogen recombiners, but they were not available. When you add water to hydrogen in a situation like this, it tends to explode, and it did, damaging parts of the building structure. Note that this was not a nuclear explosion, but it still damaged parts of the building and the systems.
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∙ 12y ago
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What got destroyed in the tsunami in Japan 2011?
Buildings, Houses, the way of life and their nuclear power plant.
What places have been exposed to radiation?
Los AlamosHiroshimaNagasakiChernobylThat nuclear power plant in Japan
What happened during Japan's earthquake?
During the earthquake in Japan, a tsunami was created, thousands of homes were destroyed, and one of the nuclear power plants was badly damaged, spreading its radioactivity.
What causes the japan nuclear power plant to malfunction?
The earthquake and the tsunamis it triggered. Beyond that we must await the failure analysis report.
Is a nuclear power plant producing electricity an example of nuclear fusion?
yes. this is because nuclear power plants use nuclear fusion
What got destroyed in the tsunami in Japan 2011?
Buildings, Houses, the way of life and their nuclear power plant.
Where is the nuclear plant located in japan?
Japan had 55 operating nuclear power plants connected to their electrical grid. Three of these, on the north eastern side of the islands, were damaged or destroyed by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
What is the nuclear plant of Japan crippled by the earthquake and tsunami?
Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant.
What Does The Nuclear Power Plant In Japan Do?
Make electricity.
What happened to the nuclear power plant after the earthquake in japan?
they exploded
Where is nuclear power plant in trouble in Japan?
Fukushima Daiichi.
What is the damage nuclear power plant in japan?
you can get cancer and die from it .
Why is the possible collapse of a nuclear power plant in Japan such a danger?
since it is a NUCLEAR power plant, radiation can be released, which is really harmful to people and others. :)
What was the nuclear threat japan was given in 2011?
Heavy damage to a nuclear power plant by a tsunami.
How did the radiation leak in japan ocurr?
Due to a nuclear power plant.
How can there be a nuclear disaster in Japan?
The tsunami wiped out almost all of Japan knocking down many buildings such as skyscrapers and nuclear power plants that were operating in Japan. The tsunami destroyed the nuclear power plants and radiation leaked out which caused a raging panic among the people of Japan.
Why were the nuclear power plants in Japan where they were?
The power plant were where they were because the generators needed cool water for the cooling systems at the plant.
