Glossary of Terms

Glossary: ReCore.One Terminology

The ReCore.One initiative utilizes specific terminology from the fields of nuclear physics, advanced manufacturing, and pyroprocessing metallurgy.

SFR (Sodium Fast Reactor): A reactor that uses liquid sodium as a coolant and operates in the fast neutron spectrum, allowing for the burning of transuranic elements.
Fast Spectrum: A neutron energy regime where neutrons have high kinetic energy, enabling them to fission heavy isotopes that build up as waste in traditional reactors.
Negative Void Coefficient: A safety characteristic where the loss of coolant density (voiding) naturally reduces the reactor’s power level.
Actinides: Heavy radioactive elements with atomic numbers 89 to 103. In the context of waste, it specifically refers to long-lived Transuranics.
TRU (Transuranic Elements): Elements heavier than Uranium (e.g., Plutonium, Americium, Curium) that are the primary cause of long-lived nuclear waste radiotoxicity.

ALIP (Annular Linear Induction Pump): An electromagnetic pump with no moving parts that moves liquid sodium using travelling magnetic fields.
Helix HX (Helical Heat Exchanger): Shell-and-tube unit with helical tubes designed for high heat-transfer rate and very low pressure drop. Internal fins and twisted-tape inlets enhance the gas side (e.g. high-pressure N₂). Used for primary Na→N₂ duty and for Brayton recuperator / precooler service.
Bonded Inserts: Fin or swirl inserts metallurgically fixed inside seamless tubes (drawn, tape, or bonded geometries) before or after helical forming.
HT9: Ferritic–martensitic steel used as the baseline fuel cladding for ReCore metallic fuel; strong heritage in SFR metal-fuel programmes (e.g. FFTF / EBR-II class).
P92 / NF616 / Grade 92: Advanced 9%Cr creep-resistant steels (power-plant pedigree). Optional cladding upgrades at fuel exchange when qualified for SFR metal-fuel duty — not required for FOAK cores.
ODS Steel (Oxide Dispersion Strengthened): Oxide-dispersion alloys studied for high-flux cladding; not the ReCore baseline (kept only as a possible long-term R&D option outside the core concept).
LVEB (Local Vacuum Electron Beam Welding): A precision welding technology that creates a localized vacuum over the weld seam, allowing for high-integrity joining of large structures on-site without a full vacuum chamber.

Pyroprocessing: A high-temperature, electrochemical recycling method for nuclear fuel that operates in molten salts rather than aqueous acids.
LCC (Liquid Cadmium Cathode): A specialized component in an electrorefiner that co-deposits Plutonium and other actinides, ensuring they are never isolated in pure form.
Electrorefiner: The heart of the pyroprocessing facility where electricity separates uranium and transuranics from fission products.
Sodalite: A synthetic ceramic waste form used to permanently immobilize salt-based nuclear waste.

TRL (Technology Readiness Level) {#trl}: A 1–9 maturity scale (NASA/EU-style) from basic principles to proven commercial systems. ReCore pages use estimated component TRLs and heritage notes; they are not official certified scores, and a full FOAK plant is not claimed as TRL 9.
Iso-Breeder: A reactor design that produces exactly as much fissile material as it consumes, allowing for long-term operation without requiring fresh enrichment or fuel imports.
FOAK (First-Of-A-Kind): The first full-scale deployment of a new technology or design.
Bridge Fuel: A temporary fuel (e.g., U-Pu-Zr) used to start up the first reactors before the full closed-loop recycling facility is operational.
EPZ (Emergency Planning Zone): The area surrounding a nuclear plant where specific safety and evacuation plans are required. ReCore.One targets a “Site-Boundary EPZ.”