Areva - Reference Document 2016

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GLOSSARIES
1. TECHNICAL GLOSSARY
> Actinide
Chemical element whose nucleus contains from 89 to 103 protons. In ascending
order: actinium, thorium, protactinium, uranium and transuranics (more than
93 protons). Neptunium, americium and curium are often called minor actinides.
> Activation
Process by which a stable atomic nucleus is transformed into a radioactive nucleus.
The transformation mainly takes place when an atomic nucleus bombarded by a
neutron flux captures a neutron.
> Air treatment system
Generally used to reduce emissions of pollutants to the atmosphere (CO, dust,
NOx, SOx, HCl, dioxins, etc.).
May also be used to maintain an atmosphere that is favorable to machinery placed
in a corrosive environment, such as offshore wind turbines, where the humidity and
salinity of the air can cause rapid deterioration of the equipment.
> ALARA (“as low as reasonably achievable”)
Concept used to keep public and personnel exposure to ionizing radiation as low
as reasonably achievable, taking into account social and economic factors.
> Alloy
Metallic compound consisting of a mixture of several metals.
> Americium
Artificial element included in transuranics. It has several isotopes, all of which are
radioactive. It is formed in nuclear reactors by neutron capture on the uranium and
plutonium, followed by radioactive decay.
> Anaerobic
Characteristic of a medium defined by the absence of oxygen. Anaerobic
fermentation is the biological degradation of organic matter by microorganisms
in the absence of oxygen.
> ANDRA (Agence nationale pour la gestion des déchets
radioactifs)
An établissement public à caractère industriel et commercial (EPIC, public industrial
and commercial agency) created by French law on December 30, 1991 in charge
of long-term radioactive waste management and disposal operations.
It has three areas of responsibility:
p an industrial mission, by which the agency provides for the management,
operation and monitoring of radioactive waste disposal centers, designs and
builds new centers for waste that is not acceptable in existing facilities, and
defines radioactive waste packaging, acceptance and disposal specifications
in accordance with nuclear safety rules;
p a research mission, by which the agency participates in and contributes to
research programs pertaining to the long-termmanagement of radioactive waste,
in particular in cooperation with the Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux
énergies alternatives (CEA, atomic energy commission); and
p an information mission, in particular through the periodic development of a
register of all radioactive waste and materials on French territory.
> ARIA scale
European severity scale for industrial accidents made official in 1994 by the
Committee of Competent Authorities of the Member States, which implements
the Seveso directive. It is based on eighteen technical parameters designed to
objectively characterize the effects or consequences of accidents: each of these
eighteen parameters includes six levels. The highest level determines the accident’s
severity index.
2016 AREVA REFERENCE DOCUMENT 371