When you turn a switch and a light is on, it is easy to lose sight of the complicated mechanisms underlying the simple gesture. Power plants transmit electricity to your house by wires and one of the most potent sources of electricity is nuclear power. It is said that nuclear energy is a clean alternative to fossil fuel but there are dangers associated with it that can be devastating.
Such disasters as Chernobyl and Fukushima are kept in mind. And in the history of nuclear accidents in human history, there is hardly a more chilling name than that of Hisashi Ouchi, a technician who came to represent the horrific effects of radiation effects.
How Nuclear Power Works
The fundamental principle of nuclear power is the energy that is contained within atoms. A nuclear reactor functions through splitting uranium atoms, a process known as fission. This emits massive heat that evaporates water into steam. The steam is used to rotate turbines to generate electricity.
It may seem a simple process, yet it has to be accurate. The fuel rods should be handled with care, the cooling systems should be turned on and safety measures should be observed without exception. In case of the failure of these systems, the consequences may be disastrous. The case of Hisashi Ouchi tragedy explains what occurs when radiation gets out of the controlled space of a reactor.
Reactor Core and Cooling Systems
The core of the nuclear plant is the reactor core. Uranium fuel rods are immersed in water, a coolant and a moderator, inside. The water also decreases the speed of neutrons and enables the chain reaction to proceed safely and also absorbs heat to ensure that the core is not overheated.
In case the cooling is not done, the reactor may melt. This occurred in Fukushima in 2011, when the tsunami crippled backup generators. Fuel rods overheated and emitted radiation to the environment without cooling. Radiation is not visible and is fatal and it destroys cells and DNA.
One of the worst instances of radiation exposure in the history of the world was to Hisashi Ouchi. His accident did not happen as a result of a reactor meltdown but a criticality error during fuel handling. Nevertheless, his misery highlights the significance of air conditioning and high security levels.
Global Dependence on Nuclear Energy
Nuclear power continues to be a significant source of electricity in the world despite the dangers. The world has more than 450 reactors which produce approximately 11 percent of the total electricity. In America, there are 99 reactors that supply approximately 20 percent of power in the country. France is even more dependent on nuclear power, approximately 75 percent of its electric power is produced by reactors. Nuclear power is also widely used in Sweden.
The message is obvious: nuclear power generates high quantities of electricity without the release of greenhouse gases. The risks are also obvious, however. Such stories as Hisashi Ouchi one can make us remember that even though nuclear energy is energy that serves millions of households, safety lapses can present the human outcomes that are devastating.
Nuclear Accidents and Human Impact
Nuclear accidents are not common, and when they occur, the impacts are long-term. In 1986, Chernobyl emitted radioactive substances to the whole of Europe, which displaced thousands of people and left a history of health issues. In 2011, Fukushima displaced whole communities and polluted the land and water.
Radiation exposure is not merely a statistic but a tragedy of human beings. Victims are burnt, their organs fail and they develop long-term illnesses. Hisashi Ouchi was a representative of this suffrage. He was exposed to huge amounts of radiation after a criticality accident in Japan in 1999. His example is frequently referred to in the context of nuclear safety since it demonstrates the drastic cost radiation may have on the human organism.
Final Word
Nuclear energy is an opportunity and a threat. It is offering clean energy to millions of people but with risks that can ruin communities and people. The case of Hisashi Ouchi is a wakeup call that behind the science and statistics, there are human lives. Safety should be the number one concern as the world decides whether to continue with nuclear energy or not.
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