Why do nuclear power plants need backup generators?

BACKUP ELECTRICITY SUPPLY SYSTEMS ARE required to provide cooling for decay heat produced in shut-down reactors and to maintain services (eg system control, lighting, communication, and ventilation) to the reactor, turbine generator and ancillary plant.

Why was the Chernobyl reactor unstable at low power?

So here’s the actual explanation. The reactor boils water. Water reduces power, steam increases it. At low power, the lower temperatures form an unstable mixture of hot water and cool steam, with predictable results on power stability.

What was used to power Chernobyl?

Discussion. The Chernobyl reactors, called RBMKs, were high-powered reactors that used graphite to help maintain the chain reaction and cooled the reactor cores with water. When the accident occurred the Soviet Union was using 17 RBMKs and Lithuania was using two.

How was Chernobyl supposed to work?

In a steam engine, boiled water turns to steam, which spins a turbine, which generates power. The Chernobyl plant was a High Power Channel-type Reactor (RBMK) that used water to both cool the core and generate steam for its reactions Crucially, most of Chernobyl’s control rods were made of boron tipped with graphite.

What is the main reason why Chernobyl reactor nuclear exploded?

The Chernobyl accident in 1986 was the result of a flawed reactor design that was operated with inadequately trained personnel. The resulting steam explosion and fires released at least 5\% of the radioactive reactor core into the environment, with the deposition of radioactive materials in many parts of Europe.

Would Chernobyl really have exploded?

Yes, it could have been worse if some very brave men hadn’t sacrificed their lives containing it, but be under no illusion; Chernobyl exploded, albeit it was a chemical and steam explosions. No nuclear reactor can blow up like an atomic bomb. The premise of the question is false. It really exploded.