4 ms·
> Increasing temperatures increase steam pressure until a rupture occurs, and the water boils away. Generally, no. Chernobyl is the biggest example of this ha
by hwillis 7y ago
> Increasing temperatures increase steam pressure until a rupture occurs, and the water boils away.
Generally, no. Chernobyl is the biggest example of this happening, but it only happened because the reactor itself was basically exploding anyway.
Steam pressure doesn't build up gradually, generally. Relief valves -even just burst points- are just too simple and robust. The much more common issue is that hot reactor fuel causes water to break down and release hydrogen which accumulates at the top of the reactor and eventually explodes, and then the water boils off.
- battery_cowboy 7y ago> Relief valves -even just burst points- are just too simple and robust I'm not sure you've heard about this[0] accident: "The accident began with failures in the non-nuclear secondary system, followed by a stuck-open pilot-operated relief valve in the primary system, which allowed large amounts of nuclear reactor coolant to escape." [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Mile_Island_accident https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Mile_Island_accident
- ohyes 7y agoThe relief valve worked perfectly, as they said, there was no steam explosion. Unfortunately too much of the steam was released and the reactor melted.
- battery_cowboy 7y agoUhhh, the valve worked perfectly but released too much steam resulting in a meltdown? Think about this for just a wee bit more.
- ohyes 7y agookay not perfectly as it was stuck open, but it did release the pressure as was said.