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The accident at Three Mile Island was a partial meltdown of the reactor core in the number 2 reactor at the facility. It didn't happen all at once, but events that led to the failure of the core began at about 4:00 AM on Wednesday, March 28, 1979. The reactor was operating at about 97% of capacity when problems arose in the secondary systems, the non-nuclear part of the plant. These culminated in a lack of water to cool the core, which subsequently overheated.

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What country did the three mile island accident happen?

The Three Mile Island accident occurred in the United States, specifically in Pennsylvania. It was a partial meltdown of a reactor at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in 1979.


Why did the government do after the accident at the nuclear reactor on three mile island?

After the accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor, the government conducted a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the accident and implemented stricter regulations for the nuclear industry to improve safety standards. It also led to increased public awareness about the potential risks of nuclear power and influenced the decision-making process for future nuclear projects.


Why wsd three mile island important?

Three mile island was the site of the worst nuclear 'accident' in america's history. The reactor went into meltdown - releasing radioactive material into the atmosphere.


Did three mile island blowup?

No, the Three Mile Island accident did not result in an explosion. It was a partial meltdown of the reactor core, but the containment structure prevented a catastrophic release of radiation.


How long did the Three mile island accident last?

The Three Mile Island accident occurred on March 28, 1979, and lasted for about 14 days, until the reactor was brought under control. The cleanup and recovery process continued for several years afterward.


What was a result of the accident at the three mile island?

Very little, except the permanent shutdown of the damaged reactor. Many Americans lost faith in nuclear power.


In three mile island disaster was there loss of property?

Yes, in the Three Mile Island nuclear accident of 1979, there was significant damage to the nuclear reactor and surrounding systems, resulting in the loss of property. The cleanup and decontamination efforts also led to considerable costs and property losses.


Which nuclear facility was the site of the worst nuclear accident?

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant underwent a level 7 event - the worst accident so far. The plant, located in the Soviet Union near Pripyat in Ukraine lost its number four reactor on 26 April 1986. A link to the Wikipedia article on the accident is provided.


Could the three mile island exposion have been avoided?

The main accident caused a partial core meltdown, and later, there was a small explosion due to steam pressure. Basically, operators had shut down reactor 1 for maintenance, and brought reactor 2 up to 97% power, which is HOT! A number of design and equipment faults contributed to the accident. So, yes, there were many ways to have avoided the accident, and other nuclear power plants learned much from this accident.


The nuclear accident at Chernobyl was than the accident at Three Mile Island.?

The nuclear accident at Chernobyl was more severe and resulted in widespread radioactive contamination and long-term health effects, whereas the accident at Three Mile Island resulted in a partial core meltdown that was contained within the reactor. Additionally, the Chernobyl disaster led to multiple immediate fatalities and a significant evacuation of nearby residents.


The three main barriers in a nuclear power plant to prevent release of fission products are?

The three main barriers are the fuel cladding, the reactor coolant system, and the containment building. The fuel cladding encases the nuclear fuel to prevent the release of radioactive materials, while the reactor coolant system circulates water to cool the reactor and remove heat. The containment building is the final barrier that surrounds the reactor to prevent the release of radioactive materials in case of an accident.


What started the 3 mile accident?

This initially started because the feedwater pumps in the secondary circuit stopped (for an unknown reason). This automatically shutdown the turbine and reactor, but due to the then lack of a heat sink, the reactor primary circuit started to pressurise, and the relief valve (PORV) opened (as designed). But the valve failed to reseat and this was not noticed by the operators. This led to continued loss of reactor coolant and eventually to partial melting of the reactor fuel. The complete sequence in more detail can be read in Wikipedia article 'Three Mile Island accident', which I recommend. It is not technically difficult to understand.