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We spoke with some nuclear professionals to identify the nuclear acronyms and terminology that would be the most valuable to understand for people new to the industry. Here they are:
(Note: If you want to gain a better understanding of the nuclear industry read our free e-book).
People |
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1 |
SQEP |
Suitably Qualified and Experienced Person (or Personnel). The term describes a person that has the training and experience needed for a specific role. |
Nuclear authorities |
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2 |
ONR |
The Office for Nuclear Regulation is responsible for all nuclear sector regulation across the UK. |
3 |
CNC |
Civil Nuclear Constabulary is the armed police force which is responsible for the protection of civil nuclear material. |
Design and Operations |
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4 |
BAT |
Best Available Technique or Technology: Applying BAT is a UK regulatory requirement that must be demonstrated. |
5 |
ALARP |
As Low As Reasonably Practicable (social and economic factors taken into consideration): ALARP is a fundamental requirement of UK health and safety legislation. |
6 |
RCA |
RCA Radiation Control Area RCA Reactor Controlled Area |
7 |
Outage |
A Period of reactor shutdown during which a nuclear power station ceases to generate electricity. Can be planned, for example for maintenance, or unplanned. Many reactor types can only be refuelled during an outage. |
8 |
Safety Case |
A documented body of evidence which is submitted to regulators to provide a convincing and valid argument that a specified system is safe for a given application in a given context or environment. |
Designated areas and key equipment |
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9 |
NPP |
Nuclear Power Plant |
10 |
Nuclear Island (NI) |
That part of a nuclear power plant which incorporates all equipment, installed within the reactor and reactor auxiliary buildings. The boundaries of the NI are normally defined as being one metre outside these buildings for piping and two metres for cable. |
11 |
Conventional Island |
That part of a nuclear power plant that does not form part of the nuclear island. The conventional island is sub-divided into the turbine generator (i.e. the plant that converts the nuclear steam into electricity) and the balance of the conventional plant & equipment. |
12 |
CWS |
Cooling Water System |
13 |
NSSS |
Nuclear steam supply system: That part of an NPP which incorporates the nuclear heat source and the heat transport system. Usually referred to as “N-triple S”. |
Nuclear reactors |
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Note: The types of reactor tend to be categorised by 4 main design features:
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14 |
MAGNOX |
‘First Generation’ gas-cooled reactor (GCR) that uses carbon dioxide as coolant, graphite as a neutron moderator and natural uranium fuel in a magnesium alloy cladding. The GCR was able to use natural uranium as fuel, without relying on supplies of enriched uranium. |
15 |
AGR |
Advanced Gas Cooled Reactor: British designed ‘Second generation’ nuclear reactors, characterised by steam generated inside the reactor being directly passed to the turbine, simplifying the process of energy production. Similar to the first generation reactors they use graphite as the neutron moderator and carbon dioxide as coolant. The AGR operates at a higher gas temperature for improved thermal efficiency, but requires stainless steel fuel cladding to withstand the higher temperature, and uses enriched uranium fuel. |
16 |
PWR |
Pressurised Water Reactor: PWRs are the most common type of nuclear reactor. These reactors use a pressure vessel to contain the nuclear fuel, control rods, moderator, and coolant. They use enriched uranium oxide fuel, clad in zirconium alloy. In contrast to a BWR with one coolant loop, heat is transferred to a lower pressure secondary coolant without mixing the two fluids and pressure in the primary coolant loop prevents the water from boiling within the reactor. |
17 |
BWR |
Boiling Water Reactors are the world’s second most common type of reactor that use demineralized water as a coolant and neutron moderator, like a PWR, but at a lower pressure, which allows the water to boil inside the pressure vessel. Unlike a PWR, there is no secondary loop. The steam is directly used to drive a turbine, after which it is cooled in a condenser and converted back to liquid water. This water is then returned to the reactor core, completing the loop. |
18 |
EPR |
Evolutionary Pressurised Reactor or European Pressurised Reactor: A type of PWR reactor designed by AREVA, the first of which are being constructed at Olkiluoto in Finland, Flamanville in France and Taishan in China. Two EPR reactors are planned to be built at Hinkley Point C. |
19 |
Generation I, II, III, IV |
Generation I The earliest commercial nuclear power station designs, including Magnox in the UK. Generation II The set of designs which makes up the bulk of today's nuclear power stations, including PWRs, and AGR’s. Generation III Reactor designs available for construction today, making more use of passive safety features including EPR’s. Generation IV reactors are designs that are currently under development and are expected to be ready for deployment between 2020 and 2030. |
20 |
Fusion reactors |
All current nuclear power plants are critical fission reactors, however, ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) a large-scale scientific demonstration plant is under construction in France to develop the technological and scientific feasibility of fusion energy. |
You may also hear the term "Contracts for Difference". This is a subsidy scheme to support investments in low-carbon electricity generation. Schemes are paid a fixed “strike price” for each unit of electricity they produce, giving investors the promise of steady returns. If wholesale electricity prices are below the strike price, contracted schemes receive the difference as a top-up payment. If prices rise above the strike price, they must pay back the difference.
One more acronym that may be useful is HPC, which is often used to abbreviate Hinkley Point C, the first of the proposed new build nuclear plants. A comprehensive list of acronyms can be found at http://www.niauk.org/a-to-z-glossary.
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