ENVR 1102 Lab_6 Instructions and Questions (3-Mile Island) Spring 2023 (1)

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Dec 6, 2023

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Name:__Sarah Heimeyer__________ Date: _02/27/2023__ ENVR 1102 – Lab #6 Conventional Energy Alternatives Lab Part I: During Viewing (20 points; 2 points each): Answer the following questions in the space provided as you view the video Meltdown at Three Mile Island . The link can be found on the lab syllabus. **Completed lab due Monday, 2/27/2023 (before 11:59 pm)** 1. Where is Three Mile Island (TMI) located? Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania 2. When did the crisis at TMI begin? 1979 3. What mechanical events triggered the crisis at TMI? It started with a plumbing breakdown leading to a valve opening and releasing pressure that was never closed. This caused cooling in the water that drained the tank and led it to overheat. 4. What human errors contributed to the problem? They turned off the emergency water system that would have helped cool down the core. 5. By early morning what temperature was the reactor? 4300 6. What was the name of the meltdown scenario? The China Syndrome 7. Supervisor Gary Miller declared this the first ___ general emergency ____ ever to arise at a nuclear power plant in the United States. 8. What happened when the operators restarted the pumps? The temperature and pressure in the core dropped and stabalized 9. Who was President at the time and what field was he trained in? Jimmy Carter; Nuclear engineering

10. How many feet of the core were gone? 5 feet Part II: After Viewing the Video (10 points; 5 points each): Answer the following questions in the space provided using information from the video. 1. Even though Three Mile Island was designed to be fail-safe, human intervention -- both by the operators and by the local and national government -- made a problem into a crisis. Do you think if the plant had been allowed to handle the situation without any human intervention, the crisis would have been averted? Do you think you could have stood by to see if the problem would have solved itself, knowing what the potential consequences could be? What does this imply about the limits of technology? I do believe that if the operators would have taken a step back and let the system do what it was designed to do the issue would have probably gone away on its own. These tools have been put in place for a reason to handle these situations so why should we try and outsmart the system? Safety protocols have been put in place for this reason exactly. 2. According to the documentary, nuclear power appeared to offer a low-cost, relatively non-polluting solution which offset the shortages and price hikes of the 1970s energy crisis. However, the Hollywood film, "The China Syndrome," was needed at the press briefing to help reporters understand what was happening at Three Mile Island. How can we as a society make good decisions about science and technology if it is becoming too complex for the average citizen to understand? What systems can we put in place that will help overcome this situation? I feel like students should have some sort of beginner understanding of science technology. We could possibly implement resources in our school so this could be a teaching point for teachers.

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