Nuclear Power: Fission
breeding
the process whereby a fissile nucleus is produced from a nonfissile
nucleus in a reactor by neutron absorption.
BWR
boiling water reactor; a nuclear reactor in which the reactor water
is allowed to boil to produce steam.
CANDU
the Canadian natural-uranium, heavy water reactor.
China syndrome
reference to a nuclear reactor core melting its way into
the ground beneath the reactor in the event of a loss of coolant accident.
cross-section
probability for a nuclear reaction to occur.
ECCS (emergency core cooling system)
a high-pressure water spray system
that is used to cool the nuclear reactor core in the event of a loss of
coolant accident.
enrichment
the process in which the abundance of the fissile isotope, 235U,
is increased from 0.7% to 2–3% in the uranium oxide fuel.
fertile material
nuclei that do not fission but can be used to create fissionable
nuclei through neutron absorption--for example, 238U.
fission products
unstable radioactive isotopes produced when a uranium nucleus
is split after capturing a neutron.
gaseous diffusion
the enrichment of 235U by diffusion of uranium hexafluoride
gas through porous barriers.
HTGC
(high-temperature gas-cooled reactor) a reactor that uses graphite
as the moderator and gas rather than water, for heat transfer.
LMFBR
(liquid metal fast breeder reactor) a nuclear reactor using liquid
sodium as the coolant.
LOCA
(loss of coolant accident) a nuclear accident in which a major water
coolant pipe breaks, possibly leading to a core meltdown.
moderator
substance used in nuclear reactors to slow down neutrons so they
can be more readily captured by 235U and produce fission. Usually water.
NRC
(Nuclear Regulatory Commission) the federal agency responsible for the
licensing and operation of nuclear reactors.
pebble-bed reactor
nuclear reactor using fuel encased in glass pebbles with
gas as the heat transfer medium.
PWR
(pressurized water reactor) a nuclear power reactor in which the cooling
water is kept under a high pressure and not allowed to boil,
rem
a unit for measuring absorbed doses of radiation.
thermal neutrons
neutrons in a reactor that have very small energies, about 1/40th of an eV.
American Nuclear Society
http://www.ans.org
Serves its members in their efforts to develop and safely apply nuclear
science and technology for public benefit through knowledge exchange, professional
development, and enhanced public understanding.
Nuclear Energy Institute
http://www.nei.org
Fosters and encourages the continued safe utilization and development of
nuclear energy to meet the nation’s energy, environmental and economic
goals
Nuclear Tourist
http://www.nucleartourist.com
Nuclear power plants around the world
US Department of Energy
http://www.ocrwm.doe.gov
Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management – information on Yucca
Mountain Project
United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
http://www.nrc.gov
Links to current reactors