Egypt Engineering Consultant Chemical & Nuclear flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Ideal gas law

PV = nRT relates pressure, volume, moles, and absolute temperature for an ideal gas; R equals 8.314 J/mol·K. Real gases deviate at high pressure or near saturation, requiring a compressibility factor Z.

Gibbs phase rule

F = C − P + 2 gives the number of intensive variables that can be independently fixed for a system with C components and P phases at equilibrium. For a pure substance with two phases, one variable fixes the state.

Relative volatility

Alpha equals the ratio of vapor-liquid equilibrium ratios of two components, alpha = (y/x)A divided by (y/x)B. Values above one indicate the lighter component concentrates in the vapor and can be separated by distillation.

Log mean temperature difference

Driving force for heat exchanger design, ΔTlm = (ΔT1 − ΔT2) divided by ln(ΔT1/ΔT2), with a correction factor F for multipass and crossflow arrangements. Q equals U times A times F times ΔTlm.

CSTR design equation

For a continuous stirred tank reactor at steady state, volume V equals feed molar flow of A times conversion divided by the rate of reaction of A evaluated at outlet conditions. Assumes perfect mixing.

Arrhenius equation

Rate constant k equals pre-exponential factor A times exp(−Ea/RT). A plot of ln k against 1/T gives a straight line with slope −Ea/R, used to extract activation energy from experimental data.

HAZOP guide words

Standard words including no, more, less, as well as, part of, reverse, and other than are applied to node parameters such as flow, pressure, temperature, and level to systematically identify process deviations and their consequences.

Layers of protection analysis

LOPA quantifies risk by multiplying initiating event frequency by the probability of failure of each independent protection layer. The result is compared with tolerable risk to determine required risk reduction and safety integrity level.

Effective multiplication factor

keff is the ratio of neutrons in one generation to those in the preceding generation. Values above one indicate a supercritical reactor, below one subcritical, and equal to one critical at steady state.

Delayed neutrons

A small fraction of fission neutrons, about 0.65% for U-235, are emitted from decaying fission products with half-lives of seconds to minutes. They slow reactor power changes and make control possible.

Separative work unit

SWU measures the effort required to separate uranium isotopes in enrichment. It depends on feed, product, and tails assays and mass flows, and is used to compare enrichment technologies and cost.

Vitrification

High-level radioactive waste is mixed with glass-forming materials and melted, then poured into stainless steel canisters. The glass matrix immobilizes radionuclides for geological disposal and resists leaching.

Defense in depth

A layered safety approach using multiple independent barriers and controls to prevent accidents, detect and control deviations, mitigate consequences, and manage severe accidents. Each level provides redundancy against failure.

Significant quantity

The approximate amount of nuclear material for which the possibility of manufacturing a nuclear explosive device cannot be excluded. For plutonium it is 8 kg, and for uranium-235 it is 25 kg.

Gaussian plume model

An air dispersion model that predicts downwind concentration from a continuous point source using wind speed, stack height, and Pasquill-Gifford dispersion coefficients. It assumes steady-state conditions and flat terrain.

BOD and COD

Biochemical oxygen demand measures oxygen consumed by microorganisms degrading organic matter over five days. Chemical oxygen demand measures oxygen consumed by chemical oxidation and is typically higher.

ASME Section VIII

The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code section covering design, fabrication, inspection, and testing of pressure vessels. It specifies allowable stresses, joint efficiencies, and minimum thickness calculations for safe operation.

IEC 61511

An international standard for functional safety of safety instrumented systems in the process industry. It covers the safety life cycle from hazard analysis through design, operation, and decommissioning, defining safety integrity levels.

Earned value management

A project control method comparing planned value, earned value, and actual cost. Cost performance index equals EV divided by AC, and schedule performance index equals EV divided by PV.

Critical path method

A scheduling technique identifying the longest sequence of dependent activities that determines minimum project duration. Activities on the critical path have zero float, so any delay extends the project.

Reactivity

Reactivity rho equals (keff − 1) divided by keff. It is expressed in pcm or dollars, where one dollar equals the delayed neutron fraction beta, marking the threshold for prompt criticality.

ALARA principle

As low as reasonably achievable requires that radiation doses be reduced below regulatory limits considering economic and social factors. It drives shielding, distance, time, and contamination control decisions.

PUREX process

Plutonium uranium reduction extraction uses tributyl phosphate in kerosene to separate uranium and plutonium from fission products in nitric acid solution. It is the main commercial reprocessing technology.

Clearance levels

Radionuclide-specific activity concentrations below which material can be released from regulatory control. Derived from IAEA safety standards using dose criteria of about 10 microsieverts per year to members of the public.

Safety analysis report

The licensing document describing facility design, safety functions, accident analysis, and operational limits. It forms the basis for regulatory approval and must be updated through formal change control.

Additional Protocol

An IAEA safeguards instrument that expands verification beyond declared nuclear material, granting access to additional locations and information. It strengthens the ability to detect undeclared nuclear activities.

Pasquill-Gifford stability classes

Six atmospheric stability categories from A (very unstable) to F (very stable). Unstable conditions disperse pollutants rapidly, while stable conditions produce narrow plumes and higher ground-level concentrations.

Environmental impact assessment

A formal process identifying and evaluating the environmental consequences of a proposed project before approval. It includes screening, scoping, impact prediction, mitigation planning, and public consultation.

Nuclear law 7/2010

Egyptian legislation establishing the Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority and governing licensing, safety, safeguards, and liability for nuclear activities and facilities.

IAEA GSR Part 4

IAEA safety requirements for the design of nuclear power plants. It covers safety functions, defense in depth, design basis accidents, and severe accident considerations for new and existing facilities.

Cost performance index

CPI equals earned value divided by actual cost. A value below one means the project is over budget for work performed, while above one indicates cost efficiency better than planned.

Engineering ethics

Professional obligations including holding public safety paramount, practicing within competence, disclosing conflicts of interest, maintaining confidentiality, and reporting unsafe conditions or falsified data.