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Pripjat. Mesto nápadne pripomínajúce sídlisko Petržalka. Miesto, kde bývam. Stací málo predstavivosti a vidím nie...

2009
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Chernobyl disaster

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident occurred on April 26, 1986. It was the largest nuclear energy disaster in history. The explosion took place in the fourth block of the Chernobyl power plant, located only 120 km from the capital of Ukraine – Kiev, close to the border with Belarus.

Chernobyl power plant was at that time one of the largest in the world. It was dedicated to a strategic military program for the Soviet army. The actual crash happened due to a coincidence of several factors. Beside the fact that the reactor did not have an updated security system, it had a low level of automation. On the fatal night of April 26, there was an experiment going on, which should have tested the inertial range of the turbo-generator unit. Overheating fuel caused the destruction of the generator’s surface.

At 1:24 AM local time, 40-60 seconds after beginning of the experiment, two large explosions took place. According to some experts, the process missed to start the automatic safety system by only two seconds. This would have stopped the turbo-generator’s overheating. The steam released by the first explosion removed concrete roof of the reactor weighing 1000 ton. The second explosion followed only two to five seconds after the first one. Air from outside entered the reactor and caused water vapor to mix with molten graphite. The personnel of the power plant did not follow the necessary safety regulations.

The nuclear disaster was also a coincidence. The reactor should have been shut down before the experiment. However, this was postponed by nine hours because of the forthcoming May 1 celebrations and the electricity needed to fulfill the production plan. This delay caused that the experiment was run by other worker shift than the one that prepared it. The night shift comprised fewer experienced operators to conduct the experience.

gRAPHIC by MARCELINO 2009
programmed by daniel.pribula