NukeWorker Forum
Reference, Questions and Help => Nuke Q&A => Lessons Learned => Topic started by: RT@OPG on Feb 25, 2004, 05:48
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At my station to release something from site we wipe the outside with a Maslin to check for loose, frisk with a pancake and then check it in a small object monitor - SAM (gamma only). If it dosn't fit in a SAM we frisk it with a contam meter with gamma probe. This is very time consuming - is this standard practice at your site? - I'm looking for OPEX to compare.
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Well, the news ain't good. That's prety much the way it gets done everywhere. It's even more time consuming when there is no exploranium meter to check for naturally ocurring istopes. Yeah, you guessed it... we don't have those at most sites. For things like dumpsters ans sea-vans, we sometimes use a microRem meter to spot check--pretty much the way you use an exploranium to release bulk materials.
We don't however, require double verification for most items. One qualified tech may release most anything. On the other hand, only RP personnel may free release. Self-monitors (what you call yellow badge) can't release anything except hand-held personal items that can pass the SAM.
Of course, there must be better ways. Just nobody wants to pay for the advanced instrumentation they would require.
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This is very time consuming - is this standard practice at your site?
If it weren't time consuming, they wouldn't have made SAMs for the small items. ;D
Sometimes very large items are escorted over to the Low Level Waste (or eguivalent) facility so they can be released as HP Techs are available, but everything is surveyed in this manner at the commercial nuclear plants I have worked.
If money were no object, maybe they could make a LAM (Large Article Monitor) which could hold a 53' trailer and long-nose tractor rig. Alas, I haven't seen it yet and don't expect to see one. :'(
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Well guys , while I was wearing em down about the Amp 100's, I started working on the concept of the BAM! No it's not a "Big Ass Monitor" it's a Big Article Monitor! Well there is good and bad associated with this! Check evrything that alarms your SAM with a frisker, you won't see an increase in counts untill you get quite a high reading in the SAM, it releases by total activity, not 110 cpm above background / probe area! Same concept with the BAM, we can fit some rather large items in it, maybe about as big as a chair. Guess what? We are keeping a lot of stuff we used to release as clean! We haved nicknamed our BAM "Big Danny", if you've ever been to Brunswick, you'll know why! ;D
JJ
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how big is large? iffen itz big 'n yinze gotta do it fast, get a gate monitor fer a landfill. it'll do a semi trailer @ ~10mph. datz after yinze survey fer da remooovable.
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We are in the year 2000 and there are many other options and when you put em all together, it makes for a pretty darn good survey.
Things to include are 100% Masslinn Smear of Accessible Surfaces, A Process Knowledge Document, An Evaluation by RACON Management, Historical Data of any sort, Use of a 100 cm2 Alpha, Beta, Gamma Plastic Scintillation Detection system and perhaps a SAM.
One of the greatest tools out there is the ISOCS (In-situ Object Counting System ro the Equivalent) yet many can't seem to operated it properly for the lack of understanding of material densities, geometry and Monte Carlo.
It really depends on your LIMITING Isotope too. ISOCS is used to identify a gamma component since most isotopes have some sort of gamma signature.
If you are dealing with Hot Particles or Fuel Fragments the tool monitor has it's limitations.
We have the technology yet many seem to side step the proper protocol.
Have an Awesome Week!
Moke