3. Objectives To have an understanding of what Nuclear Gauges
are To understand the Regulatory Requirements for licensing nuclear
gauges in Nigeria
4. Introduction A nuclear (or radiation) gauge:- is a device
widely used in industry, mostly for process control and product
quality control; comprises a shielded radiation source (radioactive
or x-ray) and a radiation detector arranged so that the useful
radiation beam passes through or otherwise interacts with the
material under investigation to provide real-time data for
continuous analysis and/or process control.
5. Types of Gauges Installed/Fixed Gauges: Are most often used
in mines, mills and production facilities as a way of monitoring a
production process and ensuring quality control, these are mostly
for level detection, thickness measurement and in-stream analysis
Portable Gauges: Are mostly used in industries such as agriculture,
construction, and civil engineering to measure such things like;
the moisture or compaction in soil and the density of asphalt in
paving mix
6. Functions Gauges can have a number of primary functions.
e.g.:- density measurement; level detection; thickness measurement;
moisture measurement; analysis (in-stream analysis).
7. Density Gauges The detector measures the amount of radiation
passing through the material under examination. Typically use
gigabecquerels of 137Cs. Detector Material Flow Shutter Control
Shielding Source Shutter (open)
8. Level Gauges One or more gauges and detectors commonly used
as on/off switches to control the level of material in a bin or
hopper, etc. Large, thick walled vessels may use 60Co
(Gigabecquerels) High level detector Low level detector
9. Level Gauges Cont. For small containers e.g. drink cans, low
energy gamma radiation (241Am) or electrically generated x- rays
may be used. Am-241 level gauge X-ray (kVp) level gauge
10. Legal Basis Detailed requirements Practice specific
requirements or guidance Principal requirements Legislation
(Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act of 1995) Regulations
Codes of practice (being developed)
11. Legal Basis Section 4-(1) Charged Nigerian Nuclear
Regulatory Authority (NNRA) with the responsibility for nuclear
safety and radiological protection regulation in Nigeria Section
4-(1a) charged NNRA with the responsibility to regulate the
possession and application of radioactive substance and devices
emitting ionizing radiation
12. Legal Basis Section 6 (d) of the Nuclear Safety and
Radiation Protection Act 19 of 1995 (Act) empowers the NNRA to
issue codes of practice which shall be binding on all users of
radioactive and prescribed substances, and of sources of ionizing
radiation.
13. Legal Basis Cont. Section 16 (4) (a) of the Act empowers
the NNRA to impose requirements (including requirements involving
structural or other alterations) in respect of any apparatus,
equipment or appliance used thereon for the purpose of any use of
nuclear material, radioactive substances or a source of ionizing
radiation from which radioactive waste is likely to arise
14. Regulatory Requirements Administrative Requirements
Facility Equipment Radiation Protection Program (RPP) Training and
Personnel Accredited Service
15. Administrative Requirements Completion and submission of
NNRA Authorization Application Form Provision of a certified copies
of Memorandum and Article of Association, Certificate of
Incorporation with CAC and Particulars of First Directors (Form C02
& C05) Payment of applicable authorization fees
16. Facility Safety systems including: Intrinsic shielding
Visual warning systems Smoke detectors, etc Access control
17. Facility Requirement Cont.
18. Facility Requirement dose rates measured to check shielding
wipe to test source for leakage
22. Radiation Protection Program (RPP) RPP covers
Organizational structure Personnel monitoring Workplace monitoring
Local rules and Supervision Emergency Procedure Health
Surveillance
23. Training and Personnel Evidence of having staff that are
trained in radiation protection in the handling of radioactive
sources Evidence of designation of a Radiation Safety officer (RSO)
indicating his job description and authority to stop unsafe
practice. Copies of CVs, academic and professional qualifications
of classified workers and their appointment letters
24. Accredited Service Contractual Service agreement with NNRA
accredited Dosimetry Service Provider (DSP) Service agreement with
an NNRA accredited Radiation Safety Adviser (RSA) ?
25. NiBIRR 2003 Section 27(3): Nothing in Paragraph (1) of this
regulation shall be construed as requiring a radiation employer to
consult a radiation safety adviser (RSA) where the only work with
ionizing radiation undertaken by that employer is work specified in
the First Schedule to these regulations First Schedule: i.e if the
apparatus does not under normal operating conditions cause a dose
rate of more than 1Sv/h at distance of 0.1m from any accessible
surface
26. Radiation Measurement From Previous Inspection Reports
Independent radiation measurement was performed The radiation
measurement was taken at 1m and in close contact to and around the
transmission Nucleonic Gauges
27. NIGERIAN BOTLING COMPANY Vol. IV A. Enugu Production Plant
Area of Interest NNRA (Sv/h) Gauge 1 Gauge 2 Gauge 3 Entrance to
the Plant 0.01 0.01 0.01 Surface of the Nuclear Gauge (0.1 meter)
0.53 0.53 0.52 One Meter Away 0.03 0.02 0.02
28. NBC Vol. IV B. Benin Production Plant Area of Interest NNRA
(Sv/h) Entrance to the Plant 0.00 Surface of the Nuclear Gauge (0.1
meter) 0.2 One Meter Away 0.01
29. NBC Vol. IV C. Owerri Production Plant Area of Interest
NNRA (Sv/h) Entrance to the Plant 0.01 Surface of the Nuclear Gauge
(0.1 meter) 0.20 One Meter Away 0.03
30. Dangote Cement, Obajana NNRA (Sv/h) At 1m away from the
gauge At the surface of the casing 0.09 0.12
31. Recommendations The Authority may wish to: i. Review the
operational areas of RSA in line with requirements of the NiBIRR
ii. Review and Update the regulatory requirements for all practices
involving the use of ionizing radiation sources in Nigeria iii.
Bind all the regulatory requirements and make it available to
regulatory officers and if possible operators