fossil fuel

Fossil fuels are originally formed from vegetation and microorganisms that have been transformed into coal, oil and natural gas over the course of millions of years. Today, fossil ...

fossil fueled

Fire safety; Prevention & protection

Fuel containing chemical energy, which has been formed from animal and plant matter over many years (i.e., oil, coal, and natural gas) that are used in a boiler to produce steam ...

alpha particle

Energy; Nuclear energy

A positively charged particle ejected spontaneously from the nuclei of some radioactive elements. It is identical to a helium nucleus that has a mass number of 4 and an ...

attenuation

Energy; Nuclear energy

The process by which the number of particles or photons entering a body of matter is reduced by absorption and scattered radiation.

binding energy

Energy; Nuclear energy

The minimum energy required to separate the nucleus of an atom into its component neutrons and protons.

chain reaction

Energy; Nuclear energy

A reaction that initiates its own repetition. In a fission chain reaction, a fissionable nucleus absorbs a neutron and fissions spontaneously, releasing additional neutrons. ...

condenser

Energy; Nuclear energy

A large heat exchanger designed to cool exhaust steam from a turbine below the boiling point so that it can be returned to the heat source as water. In a pressurized-water ...

annual limit on intake (ALI)

Energy; Nuclear energy

As defined in Title 10, Section 20.1003, of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR 20.1003), ALI is the derived limit for the amount of radioactive material taken into the body ...