To reduce hazards at nuclear power stations, safety measures such as thorough inspections, regular maintenance of equipment, implementing strict operational procedures, continuous training of staff in safety protocols, and investing in advanced safety technologies are essential. Additionally, a robust emergency response plan and regular drills should be in place to handle any unforeseen incidents effectively.

The Three Mile Island incident in 1979 was a partial meltdown resulting from equipment malfunctions and operator errors, with no immediate fatalities and limited off-site impact. In contrast, the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 was a full-scale meltdown caused by a flawed reactor design and operator errors, resulting in immediate deaths, widespread radioactive contamination, and long-term health and environmental consequences.

Both meltdowns at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island involved nuclear reactors overheating, leading to core meltdowns and releases of radioactive material. However, the Chernobyl disaster was significantly more severe due to a larger release of radioactive contamination, resulting in more casualties and long-term effects on the environment. Three Mile Island, on the other hand, resulted in limited off-site contamination and no direct fatalities, largely due to quicker containment and evacuation measures.

• The Reactor , which generates heat
• Thew boiler uses that heat to boil water to form steam
• The steam drives a turbine connected to a generator.

The "nuclear reactor time bomb" theory was popularized by author and scientist Amory Lovins in the 1970s. Lovins argued that nuclear reactors posed safety risks and could lead to catastrophic accidents or intentional sabotage, likening them to a ticking time bomb.

In a nuclear reactor, the process of nuclear fission splits the nucleus of certain atoms, typically uranium-235 or plutonium-239, to create energy. This splitting of atomic nuclei releases a tremendous amount of heat energy, which is then used to generate electricity through steam turbines.

Not from nuclear effects, though any large industrial plant built in a rural area must have some effect just due to the buildings where previously it was open country

First you have to better define working. If "working" means having nuclear material that can actually do something then you don't. If you try you'll probably at best end up in jail and at worst giving yourself radiation poisoning. However if what we define as working gets some play room then there are a few designs out there that work. Most involve some way to boil water (preferably electrical, like a cheap espresso machine as they have safeties) and then turning a turbine to make electricity. You just have the boiler hidden inside a containment structure like a real reactor and print off a picture on what a core should look like.

I'm currently looking into this for outreach programs and will post my findings.

No, most of India's reactors are PHWR (Candu type) reactors. There were two GE BWR's before this. Russia is supplying a new station based on PWR reactors, and a fast reactor is also under construction. No Chernobyl type reactors exist or are planned (RBMK type).

Probable USA has the most plutonium.

Yes, they are man-made.

moderator, it slowed fast neutrons to thermal velocities so that they would be less likely to be captured by uranium-238 before they could fission uranium-235.

Nuclear fission, not to be confused with fusion.

V

Current nuclear reactors rely on nuclear fission as their nuclear reaction.

Spent nuclear fuel is radioactive, and it generates heat for a considerable period following removal from the reactor core. Storage in a pool of water keeps it cool.

Reactor cooling water is potentially contaminated with radioactive elements and you don't want those to be released into the environment, so it is kept in the primary loop.