Обучение чтению литературы на английском языке по специальности «Ядерные реакторы»

Московский государственный технический университет  
имени Н.Э. Баумана 

Т.А. Фуфурина 
 
 
ОБУЧЕНИЕ ЧТЕНИЮ ЛИТЕРАТУРЫ  
НА АНГЛИЙСКОМ ЯЗЫКЕ  
ПО СПЕЦИАЛЬНОСТИ  
«ЯДЕРНЫЕ РЕАКТОРЫ» 
 
 
Методические указания 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

М о с к в а  

Издательство МГТУ им. Н.Э. Баумана 

2 0 1 2  

УДК 802.0 
ББК 81.2 Англ-923 
Ф94 
Рецензент И.В. Стасенко  

 
Фуфурина Т.А.   
   
 
       Обучение чтению литературы на английском языке  
по специальности «Ядерные реакторы» : метод. указания  
/ Т.А. Фуфурина. — М.: Изд-во МГТУ им. Н.Э. Баумана, 
2012. — 53, [3] с. : ил. 
  
В методических указаниях содержатся оригинальные тексты на 
английском языке для аудиторной и самостоятельной работы, знакомящие студентов с наиболее часто встречающейся терминологией 
в области ядерных энергетических установок.  
Пособие состоит из четырех уроков (Units), в каждом из которых представлены тексты на английском языке,  даны упражнения  
и задания, направленные на закрепление лексико-грамматического 
материала, необходимого для понимания и перевода научно-технической литературы на английском языке, а также для развития навыков разговорной речи. Каждый урок завершается заданием на 
проверку знания лексики данного урока. 
Для студентов старших курсов, учащихся магистратуры и аспирантов факультета «Энергомашиностроение» МГТУ им. Н.Э. Баумана, обучающихся по специальности «Ядерные реакторы». 
Рекомендовано Учебно-методической комиссией НУК ФН МГТУ 
им. Н.Э. Баумана. 
 
 
УДК 802.0 
ББК 81.2 Англ-923 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© МГТУ им. Н.Э. Баумана, 2012 

Ф94 

ПРЕДИСЛОВИЕ 

В методических указаниях представлены оригинальные 
тексты из английской и американской научно-технической 
литературы для аудиторной и самостоятельной работы студентов старших курсов, обучающихся по специальности 
«Ядерные реакторы».     
Методические указания состоят из четырех уроков 
(Units), каждый из которых содержит три текста. Все тексты 
предназначены для обучения различным видам чтения. Первый текст является основным и подлежит тщательной проработке. Остальные тексты служат развитию навыков чтения, 
понимания и извлечения  необходимой информации, а также 
навыков ведения беседы на английском языке по тематике, 
представляющей профессиональный интерес. Каждый урок 
завершается заданием (Progress Test) на проверку знания  
лексики  данного урока. 
В методические указания также включены поурочные 
словари, содержащие активную лексику, главным образом 
терминологию, лексико-грамматические упражнения и задания, позволяющие развить навыки перевода литературы по 
специальности с английского языка на русский, овладеть 
ключевой терминологией, закрепить некоторые грамматические конструкции, характерные для научно-технической литературы. 
Целью работы является развитие и закрепление навыков 
понимания, осмысления, перевода и аннотирования литературы на английском языке по изучаемой специальности, а 
также навыков устной речи, связанной с соответствующей 
тематикой. 
Пособие предназначено для студентов старших курсов, 
учащихся магистратуры и аспирантов факультета «Энергомашиностроение» МГТУ им. Н.Э. Баумана, обучающихся по 
специальности «Ядерные реакторы».  

UNIT I 

New Words and Word Combinations 

absorb v 
 
поглощать 
containment n 
 
защитная оболочка 
control rod  
 
регулирующий стержень 
controlled reaction   
управляемая реакция 
coolant n 
 
теплоноситель 
Doppler broadening   
допплеровское уширение  
emergency shutdown  
аварийная остановка (реактора) 
enrichment n 
 
обогащение 
fuel pellet  
 
топливная таблетка 
fusion power  
 
термоядерная энергия 
heat insulation  
 
теплоизоляция 
neutron moderator   
замедлитель нейтронов 
nuclear fission  
 
деление ядер 
prompt critical  
 
мгновенно критический  
reactor core  
 
активная зона реактора 
refined uranium  
 
очищенный уран 
released neutron  
 
высвободившийся нейтрон  
reprocessed fuel  
 
переработанное топливо 
self-sustaining adj 
 
самоподдерживающийся 
subcritical reactor  
 
подкритический реактор 

 
1. Read and translate Text IA using a dictionary. 

Text IA. Nuclear Reactor 

A nuclear reactor is a device in which chain reactions are 
initiated, controlled, and sustained at a steady rate (as opposed to 
a nuclear explosion, where the chain reaction occurs in a split 
second). Nuclear reactors are used for many purposes, but the 
most significant current uses are for the generation of electrical 
power and, in rare cases, for the production of plutonium for use 

in nuclear weapons. Currently all commercial nuclear reactors are 
based on nuclear fission, and are considered problematic by some 
for their safety and health risks. Fusion power is an experimental 
technology based on nuclear fusion instead of fission.  
All commercial nuclear reactors produce heat through nuclear 
fission.  
In this process, the nucleus of an element such as uranium 
splits into smaller atoms. This occurs naturally in radioactive 
elements, but it can be induced artificially by making some atoms 
absorb a neutron. This causes the nucleus to become unstable and 
makes it split apart very quickly. 
The fission process for a uranium atom yields two smaller 
atoms, one to three fast-moving free neutrons, and energy. 
Uranium fission therefore releases more neutrons than it requires, 
and the reaction can become self sustaining if conditions are 
appropriate. This is called a chain reaction. A chain reaction will 
occur if, during fission, the neutrons emitted come into contact in 
turn with fissile nuclei which, by splitting, release further 
neutrons. In order for this to happen, it is necessary to reduce 
both the speed of the neutrons and have a minimal density of 
fissile material (critical mass). 
The neutrons released by fission are moving quickly. Such 
“fast neutrons” are not easily absorbed by fissionable nuclei. 
Some reactors are designed to work with these neutrons, but most 
reactors use a neutron moderator to slow these neutrons down so 
that they are more easily absorbed. Such neutrons are often 
slowed until they are in thermal equilibrium with the reactor core; 
as a result, they are called thermal neutrons (or slow neutrons). 
The amount of heat produced by a reactor is crucial 
parameter. It may be controlled by adjusting the amount of 
neutron moderator in the reactor core, control rods consisting of 
neutron absorbers may be used to control the output, or the 
physical arrangement of the fuel may be changed (often by 
thermal expansion or contraction). The Doppler broadening effect 
also serves to reduce the rate of fission as the temperature 

increases. Many reactors use several methods, both for control 
and for emergency shutdown.  
Nuclear reactors are divided into two classes, depending on the 
energy of neutrons that are used to sustain the fission chain reaction: 
• Reactors with thermal neutrons in which the density of 
fissile material remains low (enrichment of U-235 to 
approximately 3 % or 4 % as compared to 0.7 % in its natural 
state). It is necessary, therefore, to slow down the neutrons in 
order to investigate the chain reaction (facilitate the capture of 
neutrons) which would imply using a material which slows down 
neutrons without absorbing them too much. 
• Reactors with fast neutrons in which the density of fissile 
material is high, which obviates the need to slow down the 
neutrons (principle of fast-breeder reactors. 
There are several different types of reactors such as: 
Pressurized Water reactor (PWR), Boiling Water Reactor (BWR), 
Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR), Light Water Graphite 
Reactor (LWGR), Fast Neutron Reactor (FBR), etc. 
A nuclear reactor is generally composed of: 
• The core, which holds the fuel and possibly a moderator to 
slow down the neutrons. 
• A system of control rods, designed to regulate the chain 
reaction by absorbing neutrons. 
• A coolant. A liquid or a gas circulating through the core is 
used to transfer the heat from it. 
• A heat-insulation system: A turbine in the case of a 
submarine reactor for propulsion, generator for electricity 
production as with a plant connected to the grid. 
• A moderator. This is a material which slows down the 
neutrons released from fission. PWR reactor uses ordinary water 
as both coolant and moderator. 
• Containment. This is the structure around the reactor core 
which is designed to protect it from outside intrusion or from the 
effects of radiation or any malfunction inside. It is typically a 
metre-thick concrete and steel structure, etc. 

All nuclear reactors are the result of several compromises. It 
is necessary to use either highly enriched fuel or else a moderator. 
It is necessary to find a moderator which is effective at slowing 
down the neutrons without absorbing them too much. In practice, 
nuclear reactors are defined by three factors: fuel, coolant and 
moderator. 
Thermal reactors generally depend on refined and enriched 
uranium. Some nuclear reactors can operate with a mixture of 
plutonium and uranium. The process by which uranium ore is 
mined, processed, enriched, used, possibly reprocessed and 
disposed of is known as the nuclear fuel cycle. 
Under 1 % of the uranium found in nature is the easily 
fissionable U-235 isotope and as a result most reactor designs 
require enriched fuel. Enrichment involves increasing the 
percentage of U-235 and is usually done by means of gaseous 
diffusion or gas centrifuge. The enriched fuel is then converted 
into uranium dioxide powder, which is pressed and fired into 
pellet form. These pellets are stacked into tubes which are then 
sealed and called fuel rods. Many of these fuel rods are used in 
each nuclear reactor. 
Most BWR and PWR commercial reactors use uranium 
enriched to about 4 % U-235, and some commercial reactors with 
a high neutron economy do not require the fuel to be enriched at 
all (that is, they can use natural uranium).It should be noted that 
fissionable U-235 and non-fissionable U-238 are both used in the 
fission process.  
Nuclear fuel is any material that can be consumed to derive 
nuclear energy, by analogy to chemical fuel that is burned to 
derive energy. The most common type of nuclear fuel is heavy 
fissile elements that can be made to undergo nuclear fission chain 
reactions in a nuclear fission reactor; nuclear fuel can refer to the 
material or to physical objects (for example fuel bundles 
composed of fuel rods) composed of the fuel material, perhaps 
mixed with structural, neutron moderating, or neutron reflecting 
materials. The most common fissile nuclear fuels are U-235 and 

Pu-239, and the actions of mining, refining, purifying, using, and 
ultimately disposing of these elements together make up the 
nuclear fuel cycle, which is important for its relevance to nuclear 
power generation and nuclear weapons.  
 
2. Answer the questions. 

1. What are nuclear reactors used for? 
2. What process is used in nuclear reactor to produce heat? 
3. When will a chain reaction occur? 
4. Why do we call neutrons “thermal neutrons”? 
5. What is a crucial parameter? How can it be controlled? 
6. Does the Doppler broadening effect serve to increase or to 
reduce the rate of fission? 
7. What is a nuclear reactor composed of? 
8. What material is used to derive nuclear energy?  
 
3. Describe the reactor fuel from the point of view of its 
pre-use, in-use and post-use application. 
 
4. Match the words (1–6) to the descriptions (a–f). 

1) nuclear reactor  
a) a process in which the nucleus of an 
element splits into atoms 
2) nuclear fission  
b) any rod used to control the reactivity  
of a nuclear reactor 
3) chain reaction  
c) fission events that occur immediately  
for the reaction to be self-sustaining 
4) prompt critical  
d) a process by which uranium ore is mined, 
processed, enriched, used, possibly 
reprocessed and disposed of 
5) control rod  
e) a device in which chain reactions are 
initiated, controlled and self-sustained  
6) nuclear fuel 
cycle  
f) a multistage nuclear reaction in which  
the release of neutrons from the splitting 
of one atom leads to the splitting of others 

5. Complete the sentences using the words from the box. 

Coolant, fission, generation, enrichment, neutron 

moderator, controlling 

1. The principal peaceful application of nuclear energy is that 
of electricity _________. 
2. Thermal reactor operation depends on the refined and 
enriched fuel, the ________ of which is usually done by means of 
gaseous diffusion or gas centrifuge. 
3. The principle behind a nuclear power plant consists of 
___________ the chain reaction in order to obtain a certain 
quantity of energy over a certain duration.  
4. ____________ takes place when a heavy nucleus absorbs a 
neutron. 
5. Most reactors use a ______ _______ to slow these neutrons 
down so that they are more easily absorbed. 
6. Water can be used in most nuclear reactors as a 
___________ either in the pressurized liquid form or by boiling 
into steam. 
 
6. Translate the sentences from Russian into English.  

1. Ядерный реактор — устройство, в котором возникают 
самоподдерживающиеся ядерные цепные реакции.  
2. Ядерный реактор производит теплоту при делении 
ядер.  
3. В большинстве ядерных реакторов используется замед- 
литель нейтронов с целью более легкого их поглощения.  
4. Ядерные реакторы подразделяются на два класса в 
зависимости от энергии нейтронов.  
5. Ядерный реактор состоит из: активной зоны, регу- 
лирующих стержней, теплоносителя, замедлителя, защитной 
оболочки реактора, систем аварийного охлаждения, и др. 
6. Вода под высоким давлением используется в качестве 
теплоносителя и замедлителя.  

7. Ядерный реактор охлаждается циркулирующей водой, 
которая проходит через систему труб, и нагревается до 
высокой температуры.  
8. Тепло отводится из реактора водой, протекающей в 
закрытом контуре высокого давления.  
 
7. Translate the sentences paying attention to the Complex 
Subject. 

1. Nuclear energy is considered to be an alternative to fossil 
fuel in the context of polices to reduce emissions of greenhouse 
gases. 
2. Fission is thought to take place when a heavy nucleus 
absorbs a neutron thereby creating an unstable edifice which 
splits into two lighter nuclei. 
3. The potential technological process is said to be a key 
element of the future of nuclear energy. 
4. A nuclear melt down is thought to be occurred if the reactor 
losses its coolant. 
5. The residual heat and the heat produced from the decay of 
the fission products are considered to be enough to drive the 
core’s temperature up even if nuclear chain reaction stops. 
6. The spent fuel rods are believed to be the most radioactive 
of all nuclear wastes. 
7. Apart from hydropower, nuclear energy proves to be the 
only technology available today for the intensive production of 
energy without CO2. 
8. These experiments are likely to have been made in suitable 
conditions. 
9. This new approach to the problem discussed appears to be 
the most satisfactory. 
10. This reaction was not expected to start at low 
temperatures.