Chapter 4

Front 1

boiling water reactor (BWR)

Back 1

1.A nuclear reactor in which the fuel is uranium oxide clad in zircaloy and the coolant and moderator is water, which is boiled to produce steam for driving turbines

Front 2

breeder reacting

Back 2

1.A nuclear reactor that creates fissile material (typically plutonium-239 by irradiation of uranium-238) at a faster rate than it uses another fissile material (typically uranium-235) as fuel

Front 3

control rod

Back 3

1.A rod of a neutron-absorbing substance used to vary the output power of a nuclear reactor

Front 4

electron

Back 4

1.A stable subatomic particle with a charge of negative electricity, found in all atoms and acting as the primary carrier of electricity in solids

Front 5

half-life

Back 5

1.The time taken for the radioactivity of a specified isotope to fall to half its original value

Front 6

isotope

Back 6

1.Each of two or more forms of the same element that contain equal numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei, and hence differ in relative atomic mass but not in chemical properties; in particular, a radioactive form of an element

Front 7

kyoto protocol

Back 7

The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

Front 8

neutron

Back 8

1.A subatomic particle of about the same mass as a proton but without an electric charge, present in all atomic nuclei except those of ordinary hydrogen

Front 9

nuclear fission

Back 9

1.A nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits spontaneously or on impact with another particle, with the release of energy

Front 10

nuclear fusion

Back 10

1.A nuclear reaction in which atomic nuclei of low atomic number fuse to form a heavier nucleus with the release of energy

Front 11

nuclear waste fund

Back 11

The Nuclear Waste Fund was established in 1982 when Congress passed legislation that those who use electricity supplied by nuclear energy would pay for the used nuclear fuel disposal program.

Front 12

nuclear waste policy act

Back 12

The Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) supports the use of deep geologic repositories for the safe storage and/or disposal of radioactive waste. The Act establishes procedures to evaluate and select sites for geologic repositories and for the interaction of state and federal governments. It also provides a timetable of key milestones the federal agencies must meet in carrying out the program.

Front 13

nucleus

Back 13

2.The positively charged central core of an atom, containing most of its mass.

Front 14

plasma

Back 14

1.The colorless fluid part of blood, lymph, or milk, in which corpuscles or fat globules are suspended.

Front 15

plutonium 239 (Pu-239)

Back 15

a highly fissionable isotope of plutonium that is used in atomic weapons and as a reactor fuel; produced by irradiating uranium 238 with slow electrons

Front 16

pressurized water reactor (pwr)

Back 16

1.A nuclear reactor in which the fuel is uranium oxide clad in zircaloy and the coolant and moderator is water maintained at high pressure so that it does not boil at the operating temperature of the reactor

Front 17

primary loop

Back 17

The outer loop in a cascade system

Front 18

proliferation

Back 18

1.Rapid increase in numbers.

Front 19

proton

Back 19

protons, plural

1.A stable subatomic particle occurring in all atomic nuclei, with a positive electric charge equal in magnitude to that of an electron, but of opposite sign

Front 20

radioactivity

Back 20

1.The emission of ionizing radiation or particles caused by the spontaneous disintegration of atomic nuclei

Front 21

secondary loop

Back 21

A system of piping that carries non-radioactive water, which then absorbs heat through steam generator tubes, is boiled and, as steam, is used to spin the turbines

Front 22

shipping cask

Back 22

Spent nuclear fuel shipping casks are used to transport spent nuclear fuel used in nuclear power plants and research reactors to disposal sites such as the nuclear reprocessing center at COGEMA La Hague site

Front 23

Three Mile Island (TMI) accident

Back 23

In 1979 at Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in USA a cooling malfunction caused part of the core to melt in the # 2 reactor. The TMI-2 reactor was destroyed.
Some radioactive gas was released a couple of days after the accident, but not enough to cause any dose above background levels to local residents.
There were no injuries or adverse health effects from the Three Mile Island accident.

Front 24

uranium 235 (U235)

Back 24

a uranium isotope with mass number 235; capable of sustaining chain reactions

Front 25

uranium 238 (U238)

Back 25

the commonest isotope of uranium; it is not fissionable but when irradiated with neutrons it produces fissionable plutonium 239

Front 26

yucca mountain storage facility

Back 26

a place where radioactive waste is disposed