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

Technical specifications

Energy; Nuclear energy

Part of an NRC licence authorising the operation of a nuclear production or utilisation facility. A Technical Specification establishes requirements for items such as safety limits, limiting safety ...

Thermal breeder reactor

Energy; Nuclear energy

A breeder reactor in which the fission chain reaction is sustained by thermal neutrons.

Supercriticality

Energy; Nuclear energy

The condition for increasing the level of operation of a reactor. The rate of fission neutron production exceeds all neutron losses, and the overall neutron population increases.

Superheating

Energy; Nuclear energy

The heating of a vapor, particularly steam, to a temperature much higher than the boiling point at the existing pressure. This is done in some power plants to improve efficiency and to reduce water ...

Survey metre

Energy; Nuclear energy

Any portable radiation detection instrument especially adapted for inspecting an area or individual to establish the existence and amount of radioactive material present.

Teletherapy

Energy; Nuclear energy

Treatment in which the source of the therapeutic radiation is at a distance from the body. Because teletherapy is often used to treat malignant tumours deep within the body by bombarding them with a ...

Limiting condition for operation

Energy; Nuclear energy

The section of Technical Specifications that identifies the lowest functional capability or performance level of equipment required for safe operation of the facility.