Would the New Reactor Designs Have Made a Difference?
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Experts say it's likely the uranium fuel in Units 1 and 2 partially melted down after coolant pumps stopped working. Reactors going into service now have cooling systems designed to work for days even if pumps fail. In advanced reactors, not yet on the market, even a total loss of cooling would not cause a meltdown—the fuels are designed to withstand intense heat.
As pressure rose, operators vented some radioactive steam into the atmosphere to prevent the primary containment chamber from exploding. New reactors have stronger containment vessels that can withstand pressure from reactor overheating.