- Industry: Government
- Number of terms: 11131
- Number of blossaries: 0
- Company Profile:
An annex to the National Response Framework, which provides for a timely, coordinated response by Federal agencies to nuclear or radiological accidents or incidents within the United States. This annex covers radiological dispersal devices and improvised nuclear devices, as well as accidents involving commercial reactors or weapons production facilities, lost radioactive sources, transportation accidents involving radioactive material, and foreign accidents involving nuclear or radioactive material.
Industry:Energy
Energy given off by matter in the form of tiny fast-moving particles (alpha particles, beta particles, and neutrons) or pulsating electromagnetic rays or waves (gamma rays) emitted from the nuclei of unstable radioactive atoms. All matter is composed of atoms, which are made up of various parts; the nucleus contains minute particles called protons and neutrons, and the atom’s outer shell contains other particles called electrons. The nucleus carries a positive electrical charge, while the electrons carry a negative electrical charge. These forces work toward a strong, stable balance by getting rid of excess atomic energy (radioactivity). In that process, unstable radioactive nuclei may emit energy, and this spontaneous emission is called nuclear radiation. All types of nuclear radiation are also ionizing radiation, but the reverse is not necessarily true; for example, x-rays are a type of ionizing radiation, but they are not nuclear radiation because they do not originate from atomic nuclei. In addition, some elements are naturally radioactive, as their nuclei emit nuclear radiation as a result of radioactive decay, but others are induced to become radioactive by being irradiated in a reactor. Naturally occurring nuclear radiation is indistinguishable from induced radiation.
Industry:Energy
An electrical generating facility using a nuclear reactor as its heat source to provide steam to a turbine generator.
Industry:Energy
In reactor physics, a substance (other than fissionable material) that has a large capacity for absorbing neutrons in the vicinity of the reactor core. This effect may be undesirable in some reactor applications because it may prevent or disrupt the fission chain reaction, thereby affecting normal operation. However, neutron-absorbing materials (commonly known as “poisons” are intentionally inserted into some types of reactors to decrease the reactivity of their initial fresh fuel load.
Industry:Energy
A nuclear reactor that is used for research, training, or development purposes (which may include producing radioisotopes for medical and industrial uses) but has no role in producing electrical power. These reactors, which are also known as research and test reactors, contribute to almost every field of science, including physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, geology, archeology, and ecology.
Industry:Energy
A centralized U. S. Government database used to track and account for source and special nuclear material, to ensure that it has not been stolen or diverted to unauthorized users. The system contains current and historical data on the possession, use, and shipment of source and special nuclear material within the United States, as well as all exports and imports of such material. The database is jointly funded by the NRC and DOE and is operated under a DOE contract.
Industry:Energy
Fissionable material that has been enriched to a composition that will support a self-sustaining fission chain reaction when used to fuel a nuclear reactor, thereby producing energy (usually in the form of heat or useful radiation) for use in other processes.
Industry:Energy
A powerful short-ranged attractive force that holds together the particles inside an atomic nucleus.
Industry:Energy
A specialized agency within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which was created to assist its Member countries in maintaining and further developing the scientific, technological, and legal bases for safe, environmentally friendly, and economical use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The NEA’s current membership consists of 28 countries in Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region, which account for approximately 85 percent of the world’s installed nuclear capacity.
Industry:Energy
The primary center of communication and coordination among the NRC, its licensees, State and Tribal agencies, and other Federal agencies, regarding operating events involving nuclear reactors or materials. Located in Rockville, MD, the Operations Center is staffed 24 hours a day by employees trained to receive and evaluate event reports and coordinate incident response activities.
Industry:Energy
