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OUTLINE OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR

keywords to understand the nuclear disaster

nuclear reactor: installation which can be initiated, maintained and controlled nuclear reaction chain. The reactor (nuclear) pressure water is a natural water-cooled reactor at a pressure higher than the saturation, in order to prevent boiling. The boiling water reactor (such as the central Fukushima) is a natural water-cooled reactor, which bring to a boil in the core in a considerable amount.

BWR or boiling water ractors: heat generated by the chain reaction is used to boil water. Such are the reactors at the Fukushima plant or Japanese Garoña, in Burgos. Both plants use the same technology reactors BWR (Boiling Water Reactor) manufactured by General Electric. The U.S. company sold them the same model to Japanese and English in the early 70's. Fukushima reactor 1 and the only one on Garona, Spain are identical and were inaugurated in 1971.

fuel bar: nuclear fuel rod arranged in the form of tablets consisting contained in a tubular metal sheath. In nuclear power plants can be used uranium and plutonium, but the latter is also used in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. In Fukushima, five reactors operating with uranium and one of them-the three-reactor containing a mixture called MOX containing plutonium and uranium.

Reactors three and four of the Fukushima central to the containment buildings damaged and steaming.

Vessel: container in which is the core of a nuclear reactor. In it are the pods fuel (metal cover containing sealed fuel), the reflector (located around the core material which is the back encargdo neutrons that would otherwise escape), the coolant (radioactive water) and other components.

Containment: structure used to house inside or radioactive nuclear facilities to reduce the possibility of contamination of the environment. In nuclear power plants, containment consists of a steel sheet cladding and concrete lining 90 cm thick and contains inside the reactor and primary circuit.

Sievert (Sv): Unit equivalent dose and effective dose in the International System of Units. That is, measure the dose of radiation absorbed by living matter. One Sv equals one joule of energy per kilogram of weight. The old drive is the REM, used, for example, in the former Soviet Union. Was the unit of reference during the Chernobyl accident. 1SV equals 100 REM. There are times referred to becquerels, but units are not comparable because the Becquerel is a unit of radioactivity, no equivalent dose.

Radioactivity: property of some chemical elements emit particles or electromagnetic waves. This property is due to the existence of an imbalance between the number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of the atom, which causes instability and a release of stored energy in the form of particles or waves. The natural radioactivity due to spontaneous and radiation-emitting elements, such as uranium, thorium and radon, for example.

reactor core: Region of a nuclear reactor in which fuel is and where does nuclear fission reaction and heat release.

nuclear fusion: reaction between nuclei of light atoms leads to the formation of a nucleus heavier than the original, accompanied by the emission of elementary particles and energy.

nuclear fission: nuclear reaction in which breakdown occurs in a heavy nucleus, usually in two fragments whose size is the same order of magnitude, and which emit neutrons and releasing large numbers energy.

meltdown: is serious damage to the reactor core due to overheating. Occurs when a catastrophic system failure prevents the central proper cooling of the reactor core. When that happens, the fuel cladding is heated to melt. Poses a great danger because there is the risk that radioactive material (nuclear fuel) is emitted into the atmosphere. Not to be confused with nuclear fusion (see above).

Isotopes: Each of the different forms of atoms of a chemical element. All isotopes of an element have the same atomic number (number of protons) and therefore belong to the same chemical element, but differ in the number of neutrons.

Alpha particles : are emitted by natural radionuclides are not able to pass through a sheet of paper or human skin and slow down a few centimeters of air. However, if an alpha emitter is inhaled, swallowed or enters the body through a wound can be very harmful.

beta particles, electrons are Thrown in radioactive processes. The lower energy are stopped by the skin, but most of those present in natural radiation can penetrate. Like alpha emitters, if a beta emitter enters the body can cause serious damage.

gamma rays: electromagnetic radiation produced in the phenomenon of radioactive decay. Its wavelength is smaller than X-rays, so it is extremely penetrating radiation. Gamma radiation frequently accompanies and sometimes beta to alpha. Gamma rays pass easily through skin and other organic substances, so it can cause serious damage to internal organs.