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Outside a Nuclear Power Plant
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Once you get past the reactor itself, there's very little
difference between a nuclear power plant and a coal-fired or
oil-fired power plant, except for the source of the heat
used to create steam. But as that source can emit harmful
levels of radiation, extra precautions are required.
A concrete liner typically houses the reactor's pressure
vessel and acts as a radiation shield. That liner, in turn,
is housed within a much larger steel containment vessel.
This vessel contains the reactor core, as well as the
equipment plant workers use to refuel and maintain the
reactor. The steel containment vessel serves as a barrier to
prevent leakage of any radioactive gases or fluids from the
plant.
An outer concrete building serves as the final layer,
protecting the steel containment vessel. This concrete
structure is designed to be strong enough to survive the
kind of massive damage that might result from earthquakes or
a crashing jet airliner. These secondary containment
structures are necessary to prevent the escape of
radiation/radioactive steam in the event of an accident. The
absence of secondary containment structures in Russian
nuclear power plants allowed radioactive material to escape
in Chernobyl.
Workers in the control room at the nuclear power plant can
monitor the nuclear reactor and take action if something
goes wrong. Nuclear facilities also typically feature
security perimeters and added personnel to help protect
sensitive materials.
As you probably know, nuclear power has its share of
critics, as well as its supporters. On the next page, we'll
take a quick look at some of the pros and cons of splitting
an atom to keep everyone's TVs and toasters running.
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