A man-made disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant led to a powerful release of radioactive substances. A threat arose for all of humanity. To protect against further impact of the ejection in a short time (six months), a huge structure was built - a sarcophagus in Chernobyl, covering the fourth power unit.
Today, almost 30 years have passed since the radiation release at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The protective functions of the old sarcophagus have been depleted. The construction of a new sarcophagus in Chernobyl is proceeding at a steady pace. How the old shelter was built, what the fate of the destroyed reactor was, and what the responsible persons of Ukraine say about this, what this protective structure is like - the topic of our article.
Huge Sarcophagus - Shelter Project
The construction of such a facility, which could protect the world from the radiation hazard of the destroyed 4th reactor, was carried out in a record time for those times - six months (to be precise, then 206 days).
The official acceptance of the building, later called the Sarcophagus, into operation by the state commission was November 30, 1986. The object in documentary acts is listed as “Shelter”.
Shelter over the 4th power unit is designed for 25 years of operation. At the moment, the beginning of 2015, he is already 28 years old and six months old, which is somewhat longer than expected. The construction succumbed to the action of time: in February 2013, slabs above the engine room collapsed. The area of the breach in the protective "shell" is several hundred square meters. The construction of a new sarcophagus, which will cover the reactor and the old sarcophagus in Chernobyl together, is a task of paramount importance.
What is the sarcophagus made of in 1986?
The radiation background at the Chernobyl accident site has been and remains extremely high. In order to restrain the further spread of radiation, powerful structures and materials were needed.
The construction planned from metal structures and concrete blocks corresponded to such requirements. A huge amount of materials was used in its construction: 400, 000 cubic meters of concrete and 7, 000 tons of metal structures. And this is not counting additional materials.
Curious people will be interested in what the sarcophagus looks like in Chernobyl today. On the network you can find many photos. On them we see a structure of indefinite shape, geometrically inscribed, rather, in a rectangle. Walls consist of many levels of reinforced concrete structures.
Construction at the cost of life and health of citizens
After the Chernobyl accident, the radiation background was too high even to use robotics in construction. She just didn't work. Therefore, I had to do almost all the work with the hands of people. In the 4th power unit and around it, radiation background meters went off scale.
About 90, 000 liquidators were involved from all countries of the USSR. The decontamination group was led by Valery Starodumov.
A colossal hard work was done manually even without taking into account the radiation background. Instead of equipment, shovels and stretchers were used to move building materials. The destruction of the destroyed reactor was also carried out manually. The liquidators and soldiers were in danger for good reason: on November 30 of the same year in which the disaster occurred, the work was completed. The object of interest was the sarcophagus in Chernobyl. Photos inside and out were made for the story at that time, and now, in the era of the popularization of the Exclusion Zone in fiction.
Results of the construction of 1986
It is logical to assume that the hastily constructed structure could not be considered eternal or at least durable. As we have already mentioned, the operation of the 4th reactor shelter was designed for 25 years. Valery Starodumov presented a report to the State Commission, which revealed, among other things, shortcomings in the sarcophagus. They ended up both in carrying out their functions and in construction.
The final conclusion of Starodumov was that the constructed structure should not be taken for permanent. After some time, new, thorough and not so hasty measures will be required.
Problems and repairs of the sarcophagus
Time stubbornly takes its toll, and the sarcophagus in Chernobyl also lends itself to its influence. So, by 2008, repairs were required, which were successfully carried out. Also, from time to time, the structure was strengthened.
However, experts say that sooner or later the old shelter will collapse, lifting tons of radioactive dust into the air. The new sarcophagus in Chernobyl should prevent this. Its construction is already underway, large deductions go to it. We’ll talk more about building a new, more reliable defense.
The significance of the new sarcophagus
We roughly imagine that "Shelter-2" is a necessity, it is impossible to disown it. Specifically, the importance of the new sarcophagus is said by Valery Kukhar, director of the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry of NASU.
So, according to him in an interview, the first thing that a new shelter will serve is to contain clouds of contaminated dust and debris inside. Otherwise, the atmosphere will receive another powerful blow, living conditions will worsen.
The new sarcophagus in Chernobyl, the Shelter-2 project, will protect the destroyed power unit from water. According to the expert, this problem is one of the most important. Water as a destructive force acts on almost all materials. And this is on the eve of the formation of new dust and small fragments with a radioactive background. At the moment, they solve the problem with water by simply pumping it into the neighboring unit and collecting it in storage tanks. But this opportunity will soon be exhausted. Water entering the 4th block is infected with uranium, cesium, strontium and other substances hazardous to the environment. A reliable sarcophagus is urgently needed in order to stop the formation of contaminated water.
Species that excite the mind
The exclusion zone around Chernobyl attracts lovers of secrets. And this is natural: wherever it is impossible to be an ordinary civilian, there must be something mysterious. Of particular interest is the sarcophagus in Chernobyl. Photos inside and outside were made by tourists of the zone and placed on the network so that all curious people could see a piece of secrets hidden by the sarcophagus.
The predominant number of photos in the public domain - photos from the side, taken by visitors to the zone. Who took pictures under the sarcophagus - we can only guess. Today, a dangerous radiation background remains in this place, so an ordinary tourist is unlikely to fall under the sarcophagus.
As for the condition of the sarcophagus, the first shelter, it worsens. In the summer of 2015, it is planned to push a new metal structure onto the reactor and the old sarcophagus. Shelter 2 looks like a huge arch. It is estimated that it will provide reliable protection against the spread of radiation for the next 100 years.
