Accidents that Occurred at Nuclear Power Plants in 1952-1972

Abstract

The article describes the main causes of emergencies at nuclear power plants. For the twenty-year period from (1952-1972), reviewed and described in which countries and at which nuclear power plants accidents and incidents occurred. The main objects of emergencies are considered. It was determined that more accidents occurred at NRX reactors.

Emergency events that occurred at RBMK nuclear reactors

“…The second accident occurred on November 30, 1975 at the same NPP, due to a technical malfunction, the technological channel at the first RBMK power unit collapsed, which led to an emergency shutdown and the release of radioactive isotopes into the atmosphere. The third accident was noticed on September 9, 1982 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which was associated with the depressurization of the technological channel of the RBMK reactor, which led to its emergency shutdown with the release of radioactive substances of the radiation dose up to 0.05 sievert (Sv), which further required special work to clean up the territory to its initial state [1,4,5]. The fourth accident occurred on February 27, 1983, also at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, due to a technical malfunction, a guillotine rupture of the RBMK-1000 technological channel occurred.…”

“…The doses received by residents evacuated from heavily polluted areas reached 33 mSv. The doses accumulated over the years after the accident are estimated from 10 to 50 mSv [4][5]. The seventh accident was registered on March 28, 1988 at the Ignalina NPP, due to the fault of the personnel, damage occurred to the drainage pipeline and the pipeline system for the exhaust steam of the turbine at the first RBMK-1500 power unit.…”

“…The eleventh accident occurred on March 24, 1992 at the Leningrad NPP, due to the lack of personnel, the technological channel of the RBMK reactor was depressurized, which led to an emergency shutdown of the reactor and the release of radioactivity into the atmosphere of about 50 mSv. The first incident in the history of nuclear power was registered on May 20, 2004 at the Leningrad NPP, due to the fault of the staff, an unauthorized pressing of the emergency button occurred in the operating room of the fourth power unit of RBMK, which led to an emergency shutdown of the reactor and the release of radioactive vapor into the atmosphere [1,5]. The second incident occurred on February 10, 2008 at the Kursk NPP, due to a technical malfunction on the brush-contact apparatus of the generator of the first RBMK power unit, a fire broke out with a subsequent transition to a fire.…”

“…The work carried out a systematic and statistical analysis of emergency situations: accidents, incidents that occurred at RBMK reactors. Emergency materials were taken from sources [1,[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. When analyzing statistical data, the following programs were used: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word.…”

Analysis of Accidents and Incidents What Happened at Nuclear Power Plants in Russia from 1992 to 2019

“…To carry out a systematic and statistical analysis, the main factors were identified: the number of accidents and incidents; year of origin; the name of nuclear power plants in which accidents and incidents occurred: Beloyarsk NPP, Balakovskaya NPP, Leningrad NPP, Novovoronezh NPP, Kursk NPP, Kalinin NPP; the main objects of occurrence of emergency events: transformers and cable ducts, control systems and automation failures, steam generators and steam pipe systems, pumps and pumping systems, sensors and mechanisms of the pressure system, a technological channel; causes of emergencies: technical malfunctions, short circuits, personnel fault, automation failure and unknown reasons; types (name) of reactors: BN, RBMK, VVER. Earlier, an analysis of emergencies that occurred at nuclear power plants from 1952-1972 in the world was carried out [19].…”