RBMK: The Soviet Reactor That Was Doomed from the Start | Chornobyl Uncharted Ep 04

The RBMK reactor was envisioned as the future of Soviet nuclear energy. In this episode, we will dive deep into its complex design and explore how everything was supposed to function — from fuel channels to turbines and control rods. You’ll see detailed, colorful illustrations with cutout animations of the reactor unit's key components, all designed to give you a clear explanation of this once-promising machine.

In this episode:

00:00 – Intro
00:33 – Active zone, graphite blocks, technological channels
02:01 – Schemes of an RBMK reactor
05:11 – Fuel Loading-Unloading Machine
06:00 – Main Circulation Pumps
07:00 – Drum-Separators
08:21 – Steam Turbines
09:20 – SKALA computer, control rods, servo motors
10:32 – RBMK as a big hope and a big fail
12:15 – RBMK-1500 and RBMKP-2400 reactors

Bonus reading find on our Patreon: https://patreon.com/thechernobylfamily
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Get a poster with SKALA: https://www.patreon.com/posts/91648436