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

Plausible accidents

Energy; Nuclear energy

Postulated events that meet a probability test rather than the more challenging test represented by a design-basis event.

Plant efficiency

Energy; Nuclear energy

The percentage of the total energy content of a power plant's fuel that is converted into electricity. The remaining energy is lost to the environment as heat.

Planned special exposure

Energy; Nuclear energy

An infrequent exposure to radiation, separate from and in addition to the annual dose limits (see 10 CFR 20. 1003 and 20. 1206).

Probabilistic risk analysis

Energy; Nuclear energy

A systematic method for addressing the risk triplet as it relates to the performance of a complex system to understand likely outcomes, sensitivities, areas of importance, system interactions, and ...

Primary system

Energy; Nuclear energy

A term that may be used for referring to the reactor coolant system.

Pressurizer

Energy; Nuclear energy

A tank or vessel that acts as a head tank (or surge volume) to control the pressure in a pressurised water reactor.

Pressure vessel

Energy; Nuclear energy

A strong-walled container housing the core of most types of power reactors. It usually also contains the moderator, neutron reflector, thermal shield, and control rods.