PIVDENNOUKRAINSK / SOUTH UKRAINE NUCLEAR PLANT NEWS THREAD
Reports are circulating about a shell exploding near one of Ukraine's working nuclear plants, which is referred to by two different names.
The plant is similar in design to Zaporizhzhia.
I'll update this with news.
Reports are circulating about a shell exploding near one of Ukraine's working nuclear plants, which is referred to by two different names.
The plant is similar in design to Zaporizhzhia.
I'll update this with news.
A primary source of Ukraine nuclear information is a telegram channel run by the operators of Ukraine nuclear fleet, Energoatom.
Energoatom shared a video of an explosion that it said did not harm any of South Ukraine's reactors, landing 300m away.
Energoatom shared a video of an explosion that it said did not harm any of South Ukraine's reactors, landing 300m away.
This attack seems to follow a pattern of explosions across Ukraine targeting heat and power generating facilities just before winter.
As we've seen with Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which was occupied, bombarded, yet still operating for much of the war, nuclear plants are sturdy.
As we've seen with Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which was occupied, bombarded, yet still operating for much of the war, nuclear plants are sturdy.
The plant uses "pressurized water reactors" of Soviet design.
The name for this design is "VVER" which means water-cooled, water-moderated power reactor.
Like at Zaporizhzhia, the reactors are protected by steel-reinforced concrete domes 1.2m thick.
The name for this design is "VVER" which means water-cooled, water-moderated power reactor.
Like at Zaporizhzhia, the reactors are protected by steel-reinforced concrete domes 1.2m thick.
Our concern at operating plants is this: after emergency shutdown, the reactor cores still put off lots of heat. This heat needs to be taken away by running water through the core using pumps. Will the pumps have enough back-up power from either the grid or diesel generators?
At Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, grid and plant power was lost repeatedly. Back-up cooling worked well.
Although all 6 of Zaporizhzhia's reactors are now shut down, when they were on they demonstrated excellent preparation and execution by Ukrainian operators to keep them cool.
Although all 6 of Zaporizhzhia's reactors are now shut down, when they were on they demonstrated excellent preparation and execution by Ukrainian operators to keep them cool.
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