Quote:
Originally Posted by Skybird
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19804817
This was in the news already two days ago in German media.
Greenpeace pointed out in German TV that the stress test did not even consider multi-factorial failures of security systems - that means more than one security system failing simultaneously or in sequence.
Technical improvements necessary on basis of just the EU report now would range in the range of up to 25 billions.
|
I would of liked the article much better if it would of mentioned specifics. Nuclear reactors are for the most part extremely safe. They don't explode, belch carbon into the air, or kill people on a daily basis.
I would be willing to say that they are inherently safer than a coal or natural gas plant. Mainly due to the fact that hot rocks tend to be safer than highly combustible burning rocks.
I am presently studying nuclear engineering on the university level, and I am a believer in keeping all of our plants up to code.. But the level of media attention on nuclear energy is just plain unfair.. Someone got burned by steam at a nuclear power plant.. OMG it must make headline news.. But someone could get combusted at say a coal plant or crushed at a paper mill and it is business as usual.
BTW
Check this link out..
This is how a Pressurized water reactors works. ( Most plants in use today are PWRs)
http://www.areva.com/EN/operations-1587/heavy-components-to-boost-performance.html#tab=tab4
Their is a nice video at the bottom of the page BTW.