RBMK Reactor: How It Actually Works | Chornobyl Uncharted Ep 21

Video Description

What do the glowing green panels in the Chernobyl control room actually show? In this episode of Chornobyl Uncharted, we finally decode the iconic mnemonic displays of the RBMK reactor — seen in countless photos and documentaries, but rarely explained in detail. For the first time, we walk system by system through what these panels really show the operators, and how they reflect the complex machinery behind the RBMK nuclear reactor. From reactor core monitoring, control rod cooling, and steam-water separation, to turbine systems, feedwater loops, deaerators, and even the hidden logic behind each glowing symbol — this episode is a complete guided tour through the brains of the reactor. Whether you're interested in nuclear engineering, Soviet technology, or the deeper technical context of the Chernobyl disaster, this is the most comprehensive visual explanation of the RBMK control panels ever made. We also cover the role of SKALA computer codes, gas leaks, purification systems, and intermediate loops, how feedwater is deaerated before returning to the core, and turbine-condensate-feedwater cycles shown in full logic. #Chernobyl #RBMK #Nuclear #Reactor #Chornobyl #ChernobylDisaster 00:00 Intro 00:31 RBMK operation and control rooms 03:01 Reactor Integrity display 04:41 Basic symbols 06:03 Cooling of control rods channels 07:07 Intermediate loop 07:43 Drum separators and main circulation pumps 09:00 Main circulation pumps status display 10:38 Cooldown system displays 11:53 Turbines 13:05 Condensate processing 14:50 Generators, deaerators and feed water pumps 16:14 Clean condensate system 17:16 There is much more Dive into a rabbit hole of Chornobyl: https://patreon.com/thechernobylfamily Buy Fuzik (the Cat) a treat: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chernobylfamily