Radioisotope Gauges for Industrial Process Measurements


Book Description

In order to fully utilise nucleonic measurement principles and their applications, it is important to have an understanding of the underlying physics. Radioisotope Gauges for Industrial Process Measurements combines theoretical background with practical experience in order to present an accessible overview of the use of radioisotopes in industry. This unique book explains the modes of operation of installed gauges and presents nucleonic methods relevant to measurement problems. The first part of the book deals with radiation sources, the interaction of radiation with matter and radiation detectors. The second part explains the different measurement principles used for industrial gauges and the last part of the book covers industrial applications. This book also: Features a concise introduction to atomic and nuclear physics. Presents a range of nucleonic measurement methods and highlights their application to a variety of problems. Contains an overview of electronics, measurement accuracy, safety and standards. Considers processes and demands, design strategies and practical realisation of measurement systems. Provides many practical engineering examples. Offering a comprehensive coverage of engineering applications, this book is an essential tool for electrical, electronic and instrument engineers in the oil and chemicals processing sectors. It is also a valuable reference to graduate students and physicists involved in nuclear radiation measurement, medical applications, radiochemical research, environmental monitoring and chemical engineering.







Radiation Source Use and Replacement


Book Description

In the United States there are several thousand devices containing high-activity radiation sources licensed for use in areas ranging from medical uses such as cancer therapy to safety uses such as testing of structures and industrial equipment. Those radiation sources are licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and state agencies. Concerns have been raised about the safety and security of the radiation sources, particularly amid fears that they could be used to create dirty bombs, or radiological dispersal device (RDD). In response to a request from Congress, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission asked the National Research Council to conduct a study to review the uses of high-risk radiation sources and the feasibility of replacing them with lower risk alternatives. The study concludes that the U.S. government should consider factors such as potential economic consequences of misuse of the radiation sources into its assessments of risk. Although the committee found that replacements of most sources are possible, it is not economically feasible in some cases. The committee recommends that the U.S. government take steps to in the near term to replace radioactive cesium chloride radiation sources, a potential "dirty bomb" ingredient used in some medical and research equipment, with lower-risk alternatives. The committee further recommends that longer term efforts be undertaken to replace other sources. The book presents a number of options for making those replacements.




Isotopes for Medicine and the Life Sciences


Book Description

Radioactive isotopes and enriched stable isotopes are used widely in medicine, agriculture, industry, and science, where their application allows us to perform many tasks more accurately, more simply, less expensively, and more quickly than would otherwise be possible. Indeed, in many casesâ€"for example, biological tracersâ€"there is no alternative. In a stellar example of "technology transfer" that began before the term was popular, the Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessors has supported the development and application of isotopes and their transfer to the private sector. The DOE is now at an important crossroads: Isotope production has suffered as support for DOE's laboratories has declined. In response to a DOE request, this book is an intensive examination of isotope production and availability, including the education and training of those who will be needed to sustain the flow of radioactive and stable materials from their sources to the laboratories and medical care facilities in which they are used. Chapters include an examination of enriched stable isotopes; reactor and accelerator-produced radionuclides; partnerships among industries, national laboratories, and universities; and national isotope policy.




Power from Radioisotopes


Book Description




The Supply of Medical Isotopes


Book Description

This report explores the main reasons behind the unreliable supply of Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) in health-care systems and policy options to address the issue. Tc-99m is used in 85% of nuclear medicine diagnostic scans performed worldwide – around 30 million patient examinations every year. These scans allow diagnoses of diseases in many parts of the human body, including the skeleton, heart and circulatory system, and the brain. Medical isotopes are subject to radioactive decay and have to be delivered just-in-time through a complex supply chain. However, ageing production facilities and a lack of investment have made the supply of Tc-99m unreliable. This report analyses the use and substitutability of Tc-99m in health care, health-care provider payment mechanisms for scans, and the structure of the supply chain. It concludes that the main reasons for unreliable supply are that production is not economically viable and that the structure of the supply chain prevents producers from charging prices that reflect the full costs of production and supply.










Radioisotope Instruments


Book Description

International Series of Monographs in Nuclear Energy, Volume 107: Radioisotope Instruments, Part 1 focuses on the design and applications of instruments based on the radiation released by radioactive substances. The book first offers information on the physical basis of radioisotope instruments; technical and economic advantages of radioisotope instruments; and radiation hazard. The manuscript then discusses commercial radioisotope instruments, including radiation sources and detectors, computing and control units, and measuring heads. The text describes the applications of radioisotope instruments in the industries, including mining and quarrying; agriculture, forestry, and fishing; manufacturing industries; transport and communications; and civil engineering constructions. The manuscript also focuses on legislation and codes of practice on the use of sealed radioisotope sources and control of radiation hazard. The book is a dependable reference for readers interested in radioisotope instruments.