Module 2

APPLICATIONS OF NUCLEAR AND RADIOACTIVE SOURCES

Learning outcomes

At the end of this presentation, it is expected that participants should be able to:

Understand what are radioactive sources, their uses and application.

Recognized sealed and unsealed sources of radiations.

Define half life of radioactive source.

Learn how to take care of spent sources and fuel

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Introduction

Radioactive Sources and Their Uses

A radioactive source means: radioactive material that is permanently sealed in a capsule or closely bonded, in a solid form, which includes any radioactive material released if the radioactive source is leaking or broken

However, it does not include material encapsulated for disposal, or nuclear material within the nuclear fuel cycles of research and power reactors

Half life is the time taken by a radioactive source to decay by half of its original value.

(IAEA Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources – 2004)

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Introduction (cont’d)

A device means the machine, instrument or shielded package in which a radioactive source is located during use.

Radiation can be classified as ionizing or nonionizing.

Therefore ionizing radiation sources include radioactive material and radiation generating device.

Radioactive materials could be sealed or unsealed.

Radioactive sources are used to study living organisms to diagnose and treat diseases, sterilize medical instruments and food, to produce energy for heat and electric power and monitor various steps in all types of industrial processes. Radioisotopes are commonly used as tracers.

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Practices using sealed radioactive sources

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Examples of Practices Using VERY HIGH Activity

Radioactive Sources Practice

Purpose Radionuclide Activity (TBq)

Irradiators

Fixed facility used to

sterilize food, cosmetics,

medical products and

supplies, and for other

specialized applications such

as research applications or

for blood irradiation.

Co-60

56 to 560,000

Cs-137

37 to 190,000

Teletherapy

Fixed facility used for

cancer therapy and are

commonly found in medical

institutions, such as

hospitals or clinics.

Co-60

37 to 560

Cs-137

19 to 56

Fixed multi-beam

teletherapy

Fixed facility used to focus

gamma radiation from an

array of over 200 sources on

brain lesions (gamma knife).

These are commonly found

in hospitals or clinics.

Co-60

150 to 370

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Large Scale Irradiators

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Large Scale Irradiators

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Large scale Irradiators

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Co-60 Teletherapy Unit

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Examples of Practices Using HIGH Activity Radioactive

Sources

Practice Purpose Radionuclide Activity (TBq)

Industrial

radiography

Portable device used

to test the integrity of

various materials, as

well as for testing

welds in pipes and

tanks in the

petrochemical industry.

Co 60 0,41-7.4

Ir 192

0.19 - 7.4

Se 75 3

Yb 169

0.093 - 0.37

High/medium dose

rate brachytherapy

Portable device used

for cancer therapy and

are commonly found in

medical institutions,

such as hospitals or

clinics.

Co-60

0.19 - 0.74

Cs-137

0.11 - 0.3

Ir-192

0.11 - 0.44

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Industrial Radiography

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Industrial radiography of pipes using Ir-192

Storage of Industrial Radiography Sources and Devices

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Examples of Practices Using MEDIUM Activity Radioactive Sources

Application Purpose Radionuclide Activity(TBq)

Fixed industrial gauges

Fixed device used for

process control; for

measurement of flow,

volume, density, or material

presence; and may be

placed in locations

unsuitable for continuous

human presence

Co-60

0.0037 - 0.37

Cs-137

0.00011 - 1.5

Cf-252

0.0014

Well logging gauges

Portable device used in

areas where exploration for

minerals is occurring, such

as coal, oil, natural gas

Am-241 Cs-137 Cf-252

0.019 - 0.85 0.037 - 0.074 0.001 - 0.0041

Cs-137

0.037 - 0.074

Cf-252

0.001 to 0.0041

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Cs-137 Brachytherapy

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Industrial Gauges

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Well Logging Gauges

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Summary

Radioactive sources are used in a wide variety of industrial, medical, agricultural and research practices.

The characteristics of radioactive sources include radioisotope, radioactive level, encapsulation, chemical and physical characteristics, device operation and design, manufacturer and supplier details.

Sources may be used in fixed locations or may be mobile.

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Questions and exercises

What are radioactive materials?

What's differentiate a non radioactive atom from a radioactive one?

What kind of sources are used for bulk density, well logging and brachytherapy measurement?

Give examples of sealed and unsealed sources.

How does nuclear material differs from a radioactive source?

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Further reading list

K. Linga Murty and Indrajit Charit, (2013): An Introduction to Nuclear Materials. Wiley-Vch Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. Pp375.

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