Journal of Radiation Industry (방사선산업학회지)

Korean Society of Radiation Industry (한국방사선산업학회)
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Assessment of Internal Radiation Dose Due to Inhalation of Particles by Workers in Coal-Fired Power Plants in Korea

국내 석탄화력발전소 내 작업종사자의 입자 흡입에 따른 내부피폭 방사선량 평가

  • Do Yeon Lee (Department of Nuclear Engineering, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Yong Ho Jin (Department of Nuclear Engineering, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Min Woo Kwak (Department of Nuclear Engineering, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Ji Woo Kim (Department of Nuclear Engineering, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Kwang Pyo Kim (Department of Nuclear Engineering, Kyung Hee University)
  • 이도연 (경희대학교 원자력공학과) ;
  • 진용호 (경희대학교 원자력공학과) ;
  • 곽민우 (경희대학교 원자력공학과) ;
  • 김지우 (경희대학교 원자력공학과) ;
  • 김광표 (경희대학교 원자력공학과)
  • Received : 2023.05.17
  • Accepted : 2023.06.15
  • Published : 2023.06.30
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Abstract

Coal-fired power plants handle large quantities of coal, one of the most prominent NORM, and the coal ash produced after the coal is burned can be tens of times more radioactive than the coal. Workers in these industries may be exposed to internal exposure by inhalation of particles while handling NORM. This study evaluated the size, concentration, particle shape and density, and radioactivity concentrations of airborne suspended particles in the main processes of a coal-fired power plant. Finally, the internal radiation dose to workers from particle inhalation was evaluated. For this purpose, airborne particles were collected by size using a multi-stage particle collector to determine the size, shape, and concentration of particles. Samples of coal and coal ash were collected to measure the density and radioactivity of particles. The dose conversion factor and annual radionuclide inhalation amount were derived based on the characteristics of the particles. Finally, the internal radiation dose due to particle inhalation was evaluated. Overall, the internal radiation dose to workers in the main processes of coalfired power plants A and B ranged from 1.47×10-5~1.12×10-3 mSv y-1. Due to the effect of dust generated during loading operations, the internal radiation dose of fly ash loading processes in both coal-fired power plants A and B was higher than that of other processes. In the case of workers in the coal storage yard at power plants A and B, the characteristic values such as particle size, airborne concentration, and working time were the same, but due to the difference in radioactivity concentration and density depending on the origin of the coal, the internal radiation dose by origin was different, and the highest was found when inhaling coal imported from Australia among the five origins. In addition, the main nuclide contributing the most to the internal radiation dose from the main processes in the coal-fired power plants was thorium due to differences in dose conversion factors. However, considering the external radiation dose of workers in coal-fired power plants presented in overseas research cases, the annual effective dose of workers in the main processes of power plants A and B does not exceed 1mSv y-1, which is the dose limit for the general public notified by the Nuclear Safety Act. The results of this study can be utilized to identify the internal exposure levels of workers in domestic coal-fired power plants and will contribute to the establishment of a data base for a differential safety management system for NORM-handling industries in the future.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 원자력안전위원회의 재원으로 한국원자력안전재단의 지원을 받아 수행한 원자력안전연구사업의 연구결과입니다(No. 2105035).

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