NukeWorker Forum

Reference, Questions and Help => Nuke Q&A => Lessons Learned => Topic started by: nukedog on Aug 26, 2006, 11:09

Title: Alternatives to Pb shielding
Post by: nukedog on Aug 26, 2006, 11:09
Has anyone any ideas on alternatives to Pb shielding.

I have seen Tungsten used, and I have heard about Uranium. Any other ideas?
Title: Re: Alternatives to Pb shielding
Post by: Industry_event on Aug 26, 2006, 04:01
What about water shields.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Pb shielding
Post by: RRhoads on Aug 26, 2006, 06:14
we use them (H2O shields) at the plant i work at.
The vessel that holds the water is clear so ops or who-ever can still read gages & what-not but still provide the necessary reduction in dose...
Back in '91, IP2 used H2O shields somewhere in the can..i forget where but these were not the clear ones(the vessel) they were solid plastic...they do work.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Pb shielding
Post by: Atomic_Punk on Aug 27, 2006, 03:47
Management types work well, especially the fat ones.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Pb shielding
Post by: SloGlo on Aug 27, 2006, 04:05
Has anyone any ideas on alternatives to Pb shielding.

I have seen Tungsten used, and I have heard about Uranium. Any other ideas?


what are you shielding?  only hard gammas?  betas too?  sum junk works bettern others, but it's energy dependent to effectiveness.  fer those who got it all, there's multi-ply mixed shielding available on the market.  but those people are going to ask you what you want to shield.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Pb shielding
Post by: Mike McFarlin on Sep 02, 2006, 03:08
Portable shielding in the form of a Junior tech.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Pb shielding
Post by: vikingfan on Sep 03, 2006, 07:42
 Sounds like the typical ALARA princeable " Always let another run ahead".
Title: Re: Alternatives to Pb shielding
Post by: nuke_girl on Sep 03, 2006, 10:49
Portable shielding in the form of a Junior tech.

<< runs far ..runs fast ..lol ..yikessssssss
Title: Re: Alternatives to Pb shielding
Post by: ChiefRocscooter on Sep 03, 2006, 08:25
Why not just use TLD's , I have heard lot of guy bitch about how much they seem to suck up!  If we just sourround a source with them then nothing would get out , right?? 8)
Title: Re: Alternatives to Pb shielding
Post by: PWHoppe on Sep 04, 2006, 05:21
 ::) I think nukedog was asking a serious question but I'm thinking now that we have digressed  ::)  Maybe back to the topic  ???
Title: Re: Alternatives to Pb shielding
Post by: vikingfan on Sep 04, 2006, 10:31
 ok with getting back on topic as per requested. I have seen water shields used at a few plants to cover the core with very good dose reduction results.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Pb shielding
Post by: JeffHawk on Sep 04, 2006, 10:39
I've borated poly blocks used. And I've never minded using distance.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Pb shielding
Post by: terry on Sep 04, 2006, 01:14
I have started using Tungsten, both rolls and blankets in certian situations. When weight is a limiting factor Tungsten blankets may be the trick. For high energy point sources the rolls of Tungsten can't be beat i.e. had a 700 mr/hr spot on a RTD nozzle comming off a Hot Leg, (weight was an issue Engs. would not approve a single 20 lb lead blanket)  was able to reduce it to 70 mr/hr. OK now for the draw backs a Tungsten 4 foot blanket costs $2000 to $2500 each the rolls are cheaper but still not cheap. The other good points are when it is disposed of it is not a mixed waste  and the rolls are easy to decon  any body eles ever use Tungsten?     :)
Title: Re: Alternatives to Pb shielding
Post by: SloGlo on Sep 06, 2006, 09:29
sum probes are tungsten shielded to attenuate gamma background and still be user friendly for those with longevity bilt into there survey schemes.  but, did eye miss sumthing?  like the source material to be shielded?  there's alot of different shieldings available for different radiations.  these range from the simple single material to multi-ply composites.  source dependent, don't you know, as different materials have different effects on different radiations.  iffen cost ain't that much of a factor, comparatively speaking, you can knock the energy right out of a source with a relative thin layer of shielding if you ply it correctly.  or you can load up on the gross material iffen ya gots bean counters up yer ask.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Pb shielding
Post by: nukedog on Sep 21, 2006, 12:21
I just talked to buddy of mine that seen my posts. He said they are using Denim. He said it is a great Beta attenuator. Thanks for the tip Steve  ;)