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glossary
Nacelle
June 28th, 2024 • **Nacelle** refers to a streamlined housing or structure that encases essential components and systems, typically found in applications such as wind turbines, aircraft, and marine vessels. In the context of wind turbines, the nacelle is a critical component that sits atop the tower, housing the...
glossary
Natural Capital
June 28th, 2024 • **Natural Capital** refers to the world's stock of natural resources, which includes geology, soil, air, water, and all living organisms. It represents the planet's ability to provide ecosystem services that benefit humanity and underpin our economy. These services include essential functions...
glossary
Negative Emissions Technologies (NETs)
June 28th, 2024 • **Negative Emissions Technologies (NETs)** are innovative solutions designed to actively remove carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, helping to reverse the effects of climate change. These technologies go beyond merely reducing emissions—they work to pull excess...
glossary
Net Metering
June 28th, 2024 • **Net Metering** is a billing mechanism that allows residential and commercial customers who generate their own electricity using renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or wind turbines, to feed surplus energy back into the grid. When these customer-generators produce more electricity...
glossary
Net Zero Emissions
June 28th, 2024 • **Net Zero Emissions** refers to achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere and the amount removed from it. This equilibrium ensures that activities such as industry, transportation, and agriculture contribute no net increase in global greenhouse gas...
glossary
Neutron Moderator
June 28th, 2024 • A **Neutron Moderator** is a crucial component in nuclear reactors, designed to slow down fast neutrons produced during the fission process. By reducing the kinetic energy of these fast neutrons, a neutron moderator increases the likelihood of further nuclear reactions by converting fast neutrons...
glossary
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
June 28th, 2024 • **Nitrous Oxide (N2O)**, commonly known as laughing gas, is a colorless, odorless greenhouse gas that is nearly 300 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO2). It is recognized for its significant role in both the agricultural and medical sectors. In...
glossary
Nuclear Chain Reaction
June 28th, 2024 • **Nuclear Chain Reaction** is a self-sustaining sequence of nuclear fission reactions where the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts, releasing a significant amount of energy. This process begins when a fissile material, such as Uranium-235 or Plutonium-239, absorbs a neutron....
glossary
Nuclear Decommissioning
June 28th, 2024 • **Nuclear Decommissioning** refers to the safe and systematic process of dismantling a nuclear power plant or nuclear facility, ensuring the removal or reduction of radioactive materials to levels that permit the release of the property and the termination of its license. This process is crucial...
glossary
Nuclear Energy Policy
June 28th, 2024 • **Nuclear Energy Policy** refers to the framework of laws, regulations, and guidelines set by governments or international bodies to oversee the development, utilization, and management of nuclear energy technologies. This policy encompasses a broad range of subjects, including the construction...
glossary
Nuclear Fission
June 28th, 2024 • **Nuclear Fission** is a process in which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei, along with a few neutrons and a significant amount of energy. This reaction is fundamental to nuclear power generation and atomic weapons. When a heavy nucleus, such as that of uranium-235 or...
glossary
Nuclear Fuel Cycle
June 28th, 2024 • The **Nuclear Fuel Cycle** refers to the series of industrial processes which involve the production of electricity from uranium in nuclear power reactors. It encompasses everything from the mining of uranium, its enrichment, and fabrication into nuclear fuel, to its eventual disposal or...
glossary
Nuclear Fusion
June 28th, 2024 • **Nuclear Fusion** is the process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a substantial amount of energy in the process. This reaction occurs at extremely high temperatures and pressures, conditions typically found in the cores of stars, including our sun....
glossary
Nuclear Meltdown
June 28th, 2024 • **Nuclear Meltdown** refers to a severe nuclear reactor accident that results in core damage from overheating. This catastrophic event can occur when the cooling systems designed to sustain the reactor's temperature fail, leading to the melting of the nuclear fuel assemblies. During a nuclear...
glossary
Nuclear Power Plant Lifecycle
June 28th, 2024 • The **Nuclear Power Plant Lifecycle** refers to the comprehensive sequence of stages that a nuclear power plant undergoes from its initial concept and design to its ultimate decommissioning and site remediation. This lifecycle encompasses several critical phases, each with specific operational,...
glossary
Nuclear Proliferation
June 28th, 2024 • **Nuclear Proliferation** refers to the spread of nuclear weapons, fissionable material, and weapons-related nuclear technology to states that are not recognized as "Nuclear Weapon States" by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Essentially, it involves the increase in...
glossary
Nuclear Reactor Coolant
June 28th, 2024 • **Nuclear Reactor Coolant** is a crucial component in the operation and safety of nuclear reactors. It serves the essential function of transferring heat away from the reactor core, where nuclear fission takes place, to either a steam generator or directly to turbines that generate electricity....
glossary
Nuclear Reactor Core
June 28th, 2024 • The **Nuclear Reactor Core** is the critical component within a nuclear reactor where nuclear fission takes place. It is composed of nuclear fuel, usually in the form of enriched uranium or plutonium, encased in fuel rods and arranged in a precise geometric pattern to maintain a sustained nuclear...
glossary
Nuclear Reactor
June 28th, 2024 • **Nuclear Reactor**
A **Nuclear Reactor** is a sophisticated device engineered to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Unlike fossil fuel-based power plants, nuclear reactors harness the energy released from splitting atomic nuclei, typically of uranium or plutonium isotopes,...
glossary
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
June 28th, 2024 • **Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)** is an independent agency of the United States government established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974. Its primary mission is to ensure the safe use of radioactive materials for beneficial civilian purposes while protecting people and the...
glossary
Nuclear Reprocessing
June 28th, 2024 • **Nuclear Reprocessing** is an advanced technique for treating spent nuclear fuel to extract usable materials and reduce radioactive waste. When nuclear fuel is used in a reactor, it generates energy but also accumulates fission products and transuranic elements, making it less efficient for...
glossary
Nuclear Safety Standards
June 28th, 2024 • **Nuclear Safety Standards** refer to a comprehensive set of regulations, guidelines, and best practices established to ensure the safe management and operation of nuclear facilities. These standards are designed to protect both people and the environment from the potential hazards associated...
glossary
Steam Generator (Nuclear Steam Raising Plant)
June 28th, 2024 • A **Steam Generator (Nuclear Steam Raising Plant)** is a critical component in nuclear power plants, playing a vital role in the conversion of nuclear energy into electrical energy. The steam generator functions as an intermediary device, transferring heat from the primary reactor coolant loop to...
glossary
Nuclear Waste Management
June 28th, 2024 • **Nuclear Waste Management** refers to the systematic process of handling, treating, and disposing of radioactive waste materials generated from nuclear reactors, medical treatments, research activities, and other applications of nuclear technology. This multifaceted process aims to minimize the...
glossary
Ocean Acidification
June 28th, 2024 • **Ocean Acidification** is a critical environmental issue characterized by the lowering of the ocean's pH levels due to increased absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). This process leads to a higher concentration of hydrogen ions in seawater, which results in more acidic ocean...
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