Application of the PHDS Germanium Gamma-ray Imager (GeGI) in Facility Decontamination Assessment - 19471
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5 (United States)
- PHDS Co. (United States)
As part of a site wide investigation, U.S. EPA Region 5 had to assess the nature and extent of contamination in a former radioactive source manufacturing facility. This work involved verification of the radioisotope expected, ensuring no other radioisotopes were present, and quantification of the activity and areal extent of contamination throughout the facility. The device used to support this assessment work was the Germanium Gamma-ray Imager (GeGI) manufactured by PHDS Co. of Knoxville, Tennessee. GeGI is a germanium-semiconductor imaging detector system that provides identification, location, and quantification of radioactive materials within its field of view. GeGI provides the highest fidelity radiological assay information including the best gamma-ray energy resolution and spatial localization of any existing technology, including gamma-ray energy resolution of ∼0.3% full-width half-max (FWHM) at 662 keV and angular location resolution ∼ +/-1 degree. The GeGI is a mechanically cooled, portable system well-suited to field operations. PHDS Co. also provided on-site support during assessment operations and performed subsequent data analysis. Gamma-ray spectral data and associated images were collected with GeGI in six primary areas of the facility having significant residual contamination. A total of 61 gamma-ray spectrum/image sets were collected over the course of three working days (22 Compton images and 39 Pinhole/Compton images). During data collection, Compton imaging was used as the means by which to identify and prioritize hotspots. After contaminated regions were identified via Compton imaging, short-distance Pinhole spectrum/image sets were collected for additional analysis. All of the spectrum/image sets were analyzed to determine the radioisotope distribution within the GeGI field of view, as well as to provide an estimate of the activity associated with each hotspot. It was determined that the nature of residual contamination present was distributed across specific areas of elevated activity, where in some areas there was significant accumulation of contaminated material. It was also determined that no discrete sources of high-activity were present, as would be expected in the case of radioactive material product intended for sealed source manufacture. Results included the activity of residual contamination for each of the areas assessed, and an estimate of the physical area over which that contamination was distributed. It was anticipated by EPA that if decontamination were to be performed that it would involve some type of concrete scabbling or other means of physical removal of contaminated material. The GeGI data could be used to estimate the areal extent (square footage) of concrete removal that would be required for decontamination. Using the activity estimate data from the GeGI along with an estimated depth of concrete removal, planning could be performed for decontamination work (equipment and personnel), waste collection, packaging, transportation, and disposal, along with an associated cost estimate. With regard to health and safety, use of the GeGI reduced the radiation dose to the EPA R5 staff performing the assessment work. The GeGI is a non-destructive device that supports assessment of radioactively contaminated areas and sources from a distance, reducing the need for close contact to radiation, and the time necessary for personnel to operate near such hazards. Use of the GeGI in this facility assessment was our first attempt to apply this technology in what proved to be a quick and efficient decontamination assessment method. The GeGI can assess the nature and extent of residual contamination in a facility, first by quickly identifying the areas of elevated activity, followed by refined measurement and assessment of those elevated areas. The GeGI data can then be used to develop planning and a cost estimate of required decontamination and waste management activities. Since it's a non-destructive gamma identification and imaging device, it can reduce the distance of workers from radioactive sources and the dose incurred from assessment work. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- WM Symposia, Inc., PO Box 27646, 85285-7646 Tempe, AZ (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 23005354
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US-21-WM-19471; TRN: US21V1281045688
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: WM2019: 45. Annual Waste Management Conference, Phoenix, AZ (United States), 3-7 Mar 2019; Other Information: Country of input: France; available online at: https://www.xcdsystem.com/wmsym/2019/index.html
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CONCRETES
DATA ANALYSIS
DECONTAMINATION
ENERGY RESOLUTION
GAMMA RADIATION
GERMANIUM
PACKAGING
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
SEALED SOURCES
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SURFACE CONTAMINATION
US EPA
VERIFICATION