• 제목/요약/키워드: Radioactive dose

검색결과 459건 처리시간 0.024초

Current status of disposal and measurement analysis of radioactive components in linear accelerators in Korea

  • Kwon, Na Hye;Shin, Dong Oh;Kim, Jinsung;Yoo, Jaeryong;Park, Min Seok;Kim, Kum Bae;Kim, Dong Wook;Choi, Sang Hyoun
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • 제54권2호
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    • pp.507-513
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    • 2022
  • When X-ray energy above 8 MV is used, photoneutrons are generated by the photonuclear reaction, which activates the components of linear accelerator (linac). Safely managing the radioactive material, when disposing linac or replacing components, is difficult, as the standards for the radioactive material management are not clear in Korea. We surveyed the management status of radioactive components occurred from medical linacs in Korea. And we also measured the activation of each part of the discarded Elekta linac using a survey meter and portable High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. We found that most medical institutions did not perform radiation measurements when disposing of radioactive components. The radioactive material was either stored within the institution or collected by the manufacturer. The surface dose rate measurements showed that the parts with high surface dose rates were target, primary collimator, and multileaf collimator (MLC). 60Co nuclide was detected in most parts, whereas for the target, 60Co and 184Re nuclides were detected. Results suggest that most institutions in Korea did not have the regulations for disposing radioactive waste from linac or the management procedures and standards were unclear. Further studies are underway to evaluate short-lived radionuclides and to lay the foundation for radioactive waste management from medical linacs.

Performance assessment of HEPA filter to reduce internal dose against radioactive aerosol in nuclear decommissioning

  • Hee Kwon Ku;Min-Ho Lee;Hyunjin Boo;Geun-Dong Song;Deokhee Lee;Kaphyun Yoo;Byung Gi Park
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • 제55권5호
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    • pp.1830-1837
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    • 2023
  • The thermal cutting of contaminated or activated metals during decommissioning nuclear power plants inevitably results in the release of radioactive aerosol. Since radioactive aerosols are pernicious particles that contribute to the internal dose of workers, air conditioning units with a HEPA filter are used to remove radioactive aerosols. However, a HEPA filter cannot be used permanently. This study evaluates the efficiency and lifetime of filters in actual metal cutting condition using a plasma arc cutter and a high-resolution aerosol detector. The number concentration and size distribution of aerosols from 6 nm to 10 ㎛ were measured on both the upstream and downstream sides of the filter. The total aerosol removal efficiency of HEPA filter satisfies the standard of removing at least 99.97% of 0.3 ㎛ airborne particles, even if the pressure drop increases due to dust feeding load. The pressure drop and particle size removal efficiency at 0.3 ㎛ of the HEPA filter were found to increase with repeated cutting experiments. By contrast, the efficiency of used HEPA filter reduced in removing nano-sized aerosols by up to 79.26%. Altogether, these results can be used to determine the performance guidance and replacement frequency of HEPA filters used in nuclear power plants.

Radiological hazards assessment associated with granitoid rocks in Egypt

  • Ahmed E. Abdel Gawad;Masoud S. Masoud;Mayeen Uddin Khandaker;Mohamed Y. Hanfi
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • 제56권6호
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    • pp.2239-2246
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    • 2024
  • The present study aimed to assess the radioactive hazards associated with the application of granitoid rocks in building materials. An HPGe spectrometer was used to detect the levels of the radioactive elements uranium-238, thorium-232, and potassium-40 in the granitoid rocks. The results showed that the levels of these elements were lower (38.32 < 33 Bq kg-1), comparable (47.19-45 Bq kg-1) and higher (992.26 ≫> 412 Bq kg-1) than the worldwide limits for 238U, 232Th, and 40K concentration, respectively. The exposure to gamma radiation of granitoid rocks was studied by various radiological hazard variables like the absorbed dose rate (Dair), the outdoor and indoor annual effective dose (AEDout and AEDin), and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR). A variety of statistical methods, including Pearson correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was used, to study the relationship between the radioactive elements and the radiological hazards. According to statistical analysis, the main radioactive risk of granitoid rocks is contributed to by the elements uranium-238, thorium-232, and potassium-40. Granitoid rocks can be applied in building materials, but under control to prevent risk to the public.