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There was no nuclear explosion in the Japanese reactors. The explosion(s) that damaged/destroyed the Japanese reactors were either steam explosions and/or hydrogen/oxygen gas explosions.

  • A steam explosion is what destroyed the Chernobyl reactor. It is caused when cooling water flash evaporates.
  • A hydrogen/oxygen explosion is caused when water decomposes on contact with overheated zirconium cladding on fuel pellets, releasing hydrogen gas. If enough accumulates and a spark happens it explodes. Three Mile Island began accumulating hydrogen like this but it was vented before it could explode.
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14y ago

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