fission energy
121Breeder reactor — A reactor that both produces and consumes fissionable fuel, especially one that creates more fuel than it consumes. The new fissionable material is created by a process known as breeding, in which neutrons from fission are captured in fertile… …
122Chemical separation — A process for extracting uranium and plutonium from dissolved spent nuclear fuel and irradiated targets. The fission products that are left behind are high level waste. Chemical separation is also known as reprocessing. U.S. Dept. of Energy,… …
123Fast breeder reactor — (FBR) A reactor in which the fission chain reaction is sustained primarily by fast neutrons rather than by thermal or intermediate neutrons. Fast reactors require little or no moderator to slow down the neutrons from the speeds at which they… …
124Fissile material — Material that can be caused to undergo atomic fission when bombarded by neutrons. The most important fissionable materials are uranium 235, plutonium 239, and uranium 233. U.S. Dept. of Energy, Energy Information Administration s Energy… …
125Liquid metal fast breeder reactor — A nuclear breeder reactor, cooled by molten sodium, in which fission is caused by fast neutrons. U.S. Dept. of Energy, Energy Information Administration s Energy Glossary …
126Moderator — A material, such as ordinary water, heavy water, or graphite, used in a reactor to slow down high velocity neutrons, thus increasing the likelihood of further fission. U.S. Dept. of Energy, Energy Information Administration s Energy Glossary …
127Nonfuel components — Components that are not associated with a particular fuel. These include, but are not limited to, control spiders, burnable poison rod assemblies, control rod elements, thimble plugs, fission chambers, primary and secondary neutron sources, and …
128Nuclear fuel — Fissionable materials that have been enriched to such a composition that, when placed in a nuclear reactor, will support a self sustaining fission chain reaction, producing heat in a controlled manner for process use. U.S. Dept. of Energy,… …
