Abstract
A new system has been designed to automatically load the samples to be irradiated at the gamma irradiation facility of the Nuclear Technology Development Centre (CDTN) at Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The objective of this system is the optimization of the experiments performed at the Gamma Irradiation Laboratory for short-time irradiations without interruption of the irradiator cycles. The installation of this new system requires the opening of a hole at the labyrinth door to allow the loading of irradiating products. Due to this alteration on the original design, the door opening into the labyrinth requires shielding verification. The dose rate with the door open is calculated using Monte Carlo MCNPX v 2.6.0 code. The Monte Carlo source simulations were validated with experimental measurements of dose rate. The simulation demonstrated that a hole can be opened at the labyrinth entrance when installing an automatic loading system. Not only does it comply with dose constraint requirements, but it also complies with national and international standards.
Highlights
Gamma Irradiation Laboratory installed at the Nuclear Technology Development Centre (CDTN), Belo Horizonte, Brazil, has shown a wide range of applications
The objective of this study is to verify, using Monte Carlo MCNPX v 2.6.0 code [11], that when installing a new automated product loading system at the Gamma Irradiation Facility, the occupationally exposed individuals (OEIs) absorbed doses do not exceed the limits established for the regulations
The dose rate assessments were performed for 9 points of interest inside the labyrinth of the irradiator and 1 point at the labyrinth entrance
Summary
Gamma Irradiation Laboratory installed at the Nuclear Technology Development Centre (CDTN), Belo Horizonte, Brazil, has shown a wide range of applications. To date, this irradiator has been used for a number of applications like inactivation of pathogenic microbes in infected blood products, preventing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in immune suppressed patients [1], enhancement or alteration of molecular structure and other properties of polymers [2], altering gemstone color [3], and others [4,5,6,7]. One of the requirements for installation was a premise that followed from the conceptual design: the installation must not compromise personnel safety or equipment operations Due to this alteration of the original design, we needed to know the gamma doses rates and profile that resulted from opening the door of the labyrinth
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