Post-Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Safety-A Review

Post-Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Safety-A Review

Nuclear power plant (NPP) supplies large scale electrical power at competitive price as a base load to electrical grids. However, safety has been major concern due to potential release of radioactive material from an accident. Though historically the nuclear industry has good safety record there have been three major accidents, Three Mile accident, Chernobyl accident and recent Fukushima accident. The article summarizes the reactor safety technology and briefly reviews these three major accidents along with key lessons learned. In the light of Fukushima accident both industry and regulators are reassessing safety of NPP and have taken measures to address new safety challenges raised from the recent accident.