ML19308B293
| ML19308B293 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 11/30/1979 |
| From: | Kannazzioi N AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| To: | NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19308B292 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7912280268 | |
| Download: ML19308B293 (2) | |
Text
l NUCII/dt ENERGY : HANDLIIG AN ACCIDENP O
I believe that the situation at the Three-Mile Island plant is now under control and that evacuation of the region is not necessary anymore. But the I
radiation levels in its contsinment vessals was "very High", giving the Federal authority continued concern for public health.
Evens after ten days after the accident not much is yet known about the i
cause, apparently a combination of human error and the failing of the cooling system caused the mishap.
i "In a pressurized water reactor like the one at Three-Mile Island, vater is pumped into the reactor vessal, vbere it circulates among bundles of fueld rods fil&ed with uranium dioxide pellets that produce a chain reaction. Heat generated in the reaction is carried by the water, which does not boil because it is under pressure, to the stream generator. In the generator, water from the reactor passes
(
through coils, vbere its heat is transferred to a separate system in which steam t
is produced. The steam powers turbines, then is condensed and returned to the coolin6 system."
"At the Three-Mile Island, for reasons not yet completely underscood, unex-pected stops and starts in the coolin6 systems resulted in the creation of an emonmous bubble in the reactor vessal, the pressure of which forced the cooling water downward, exposing the tops of the uranium fuel rods" Technicians shut down the chain reaction, but the normal radioactivity in the fuel rods continaed to produce about 1/10 the beat generated in a chain reaction.
i In my opinion it is hard to achieve a nuclear plant that is mone hundred t
f percent safe, thou6h they could get close to this point. The accident at Three-Mile Island reminds me that in addition to such plants in the world, there are even a larger number of atomic powered submarines in the seas. These are all
- 791228076[
2
~
subjest, to the ccse hind of accident. This ccans that there is no security that no other accidents might occur. The nuclear accident, in =y opinion, cerved as t
a purpose with an urgent need to rethink plans of nuclear energy. Studies are f
being made to try to prevent a si:nilar accident in the future.
The advantages of nuclear power exceed the risks. The risks are that a plant of one thousand megawatts (Three-Mile Island is 950 megawatts) contains radio--
activity equivalent to the fallout of one thousand Hironhima bombs. If radiation is not controlled exposure can cause Inukemia, thyroid cancer, bone cancer, genetic damage. These effects may not show up for 15, 20 or even 30 years.
Power plants are located in the East with few in the West. Nuclear reactors i
are built in several shapes and sizes. The Babock and Witcox Company built the plant at Three-Mile Island, which is one of the more common types, known as pressurised water reactor.
I think that thism accident stirred interest to the safety of nuclear reactors.
It should be stressed that the a:nergency coolant system of these p&ints has never been tested making accidents a possible happenin6s This mishap made us do more study then ever before. This helped us to realize that naclear energy still has a long way to go but has a future. I believe that nuclear energy could work successfully if given a chance.
' .l { L s. u ll. l x
j Hella Bannazzisi 68-20 Myrtle Avenue Elendale, NY 11227 l