Three Mile Island Accident
In Three Mile Island Accident, you'll learn ...
- The design and normal function of the Three Mile Island reactor plant
- Details of the failure at reactor unit #2
- The primary causes of the failure
- Learning points from the accident that are broadly applicable across all engineering disciplines
Overview
The Three Mile Island accident was the most serious accident in the US nuclear industry. It resulted in significant damage to the reactor system and a substantial release of radioactive material to the environment. Though no deaths occurred, the accident has had a profound effect upon nuclear power in the United States.
These severe consequences were the result of a series of minor equipment failures and serious human errors. The accident demonstrated the vulnerability of large systems in general to reach a point of significant failure through the interaction of several minor issues when operators are not prepared to recognize complex relationships between sub-systems.
This Three Mile Island Accident course is part of the “Learning from Engineering Disasters” series. The series includes an introductory course, along with several case study courses – each covering a specific engineering disaster. All courses in the series are stand-alone and do not have to be taken in any particular order. Though not required, it is recommended that the learner consider completing the introductory course in the series, which is titled “Learning from Engineering Disasters”.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the basic operation of a pressurized water reactor system
- Use a cause map to examine the causes of failure
- Explain the fundamental engineering principles that governed the Three Mile Island accident
- Analyze the three process flaws and one critical flaw that contributed to the accident
- Identify the mistakes made in the immediate aftermath of the accident
- Explain how the accident shifted public opinion about the safety of nuclear power
Certificate of Completion
You will be able to immediately print a certificate of completion after passing a multiple-choice quiz consisting of 15 questions. PDH credits are not awarded until the course is completed and quiz is passed.
| This course is applicable to professional engineers in: | ||
| Alabama (P.E.) | Alaska (P.E.) | Arkansas (P.E.) |
| Delaware (P.E.) | District of Columbia (P.E.) | Florida (P.E. Area of Practice) |
| Georgia (P.E.) | Idaho (P.E.) | Illinois (P.E.) |
| Illinois (S.E.) | Indiana (P.E.) | Iowa (P.E.) |
| Kansas (P.E.) | Kentucky (P.E.) | Louisiana (P.E.) |
| Maine (P.E.) | Maryland (P.E.) | Michigan (P.E.) |
| Minnesota (P.E.) | Mississippi (P.E.) | Missouri (P.E.) |
| Montana (P.E.) | Nebraska (P.E.) | Nevada (P.E.) |
| New Hampshire (P.E.) | New Jersey (P.E.) | New Mexico (P.E.) |
| New York (P.E.) | North Carolina (P.E.) | North Dakota (P.E.) |
| Ohio (P.E. Self-Paced) | Oklahoma (P.E.) | Oregon (P.E.) |
| Pennsylvania (P.E.) | South Carolina (P.E.) | South Dakota (P.E.) |
| Tennessee (P.E.) | Texas (P.E.) | Utah (P.E.) |
| Vermont (P.E.) | Virginia (P.E.) | West Virginia (P.E.) |
| Wisconsin (P.E.) | Wyoming (P.E.) | |



