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.

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Nuclear energy

Probabilistic risk assessment (PRA)

Energy; Nuclear energy

A systematic method for assessing three questions that the NRC uses to define ?a href="/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/risk. Html">risk. ?These questions consider (1) what can go wrong, (2) how ...

Power uprate

Energy; Nuclear energy

The process of increasing the maximum power level at which a commercial nuclear power plant may operate. This power level, regulated by the NRC, is included in the plant's operating licence and ...

Power defect

Energy; Nuclear energy

The total amount of reactivity added due to a given change in power. It can also be expressed as the integrated power coefficient over the range of the power change.

Power coefficient of reactivity

Energy; Nuclear energy

The change in reactivity per percent change in power. The power coefficient is the summation of the moderator temperature coefficient of reactivity, the fuel temperature coefficient of reactivity, ...

Possession-only licence

Energy; Nuclear energy

A license, issued by the NRC, that authorises the licensee to possess specific nuclear material but does not authorise its use or the operation of a nuclear facility.

Poison, neutron

Energy; Nuclear 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 ...

Radiation sickness syndrome

Energy; Nuclear energy

The complex of symptoms characterising the disease known as radiation injury, resulting from excessive exposure (greater than 200 rads or 2 gray) of the whole body (or large part) to ionising ...