Nuclear energy

Nuclear energy

Nuclear binding energy is the energy required to split a nucleus of an atom into its component parts. The component parts are neutrons and protons, which are collectively called nucleons. The binding energy of nuclei is always a positive number, since all nuclei require net energy to separate them into individual protons and neutrons.

Industry: Energy

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Nuclear energy

Head, reactor vessel

Energy; Nuclear energy

The removable top section of a reactor pressure vessel. It is bolted in place during power operation and removed during refuelling to permit access of fuel handling equipment to the core.

Half-thickness

Energy; Nuclear energy

Any given absorber that will reduce the intensity of an original beam of ionising radiation to one-half of its initial value.

Half-life, effective

Energy; Nuclear energy

The time required for the activity of a particular radioisotope deposited in a living organism, such as a human or an animal, to be reduced by 50 percent as a result of the combined action of ...

High-level radioactive waste (HLW)

Energy; Nuclear energy

The highly radioactive materials produced as byproducts of fuel reprocessing or of the reactions that occur inside nuclear reactors. HLW includes: * Irradiated spent nuclear fuel discharged from ...

High radiation area

Energy; Nuclear energy

Any area with dose rates greater than 100 millirems (1 millisievert) in one hour 30 centimetres from the source or from any surface through which the ionising radiation penetrates. Areas at licensee ...

Heavy water moderated reactor

Energy; Nuclear energy

A reactor that uses heavy water as its moderator. Heavy water is an excellent moderator and thus permits the use of unenriched uranium as a fuel.

Heavy water (D2O)

Energy; Nuclear energy

Water containing significantly more than the natural proportions (one in 6,500) of heavy hydrogen (deuterium, D) atoms to ordinary hydrogen atoms. Heavy water is used as a moderator in some reactors ...