Overview of Non-Power Applications of Nuclear Technology Part 1 Alan Waltar Retired Director of Nuclear Engineering Pacific Northwest National Laboratory World Nuclear University Summer Institute Oxford, England July 11, 2012
Outline for This Morning • Perspective: Radiation Health Effects • Harnessing Radiation • Non-Power Applications 1 – Agriculture – Modern Industry – Transportation …….. SHORT BREAK ……. Medicine (Dr. Ilham Al-Qaradawi) 2 …… COFFEE BREAK …..
– Space Exploration – Terrorism, Crime, and Public Safety 3 – Arts & Sciences – Environmental Protection – Modern Economy
Values in blue boxes are mSv 1 mSv = 100 mrem 2.0
0.272.7 0.282.8
0.40
0.53 0.10 <0.01 <0.01
0.02 0.01 0.06 0.01
Average Annual Per Capita Radiation Dose in the United States 3.7 mSv Above 1 Sv
Human Health Effects of Radiation Dose
Fukushima
Japanese Above 1 Sv Public Exposure 100 mSv
3.7 mSv Global Deaths Due to High Level Radiation*
Category # Date Place Incident______LIFETIME 1 1934 Poland Marie Curie from lifetime of unprotected sources
OVER 1 1932 USA Eben Byers, Ingested 1400 bottles of Radithor EXPOSURE
MACHINE 5 1981- Canada Therac-25 radiation therapy machines (6 accidents) MALUNCTION 1987 (some persons exposed to hundreds of Grays) 1 2006 Scotland Lisa Norris received 55 Gy to central nervous system in treatment for brain cancer (58% overdose)
FOUL 4 1987 Brazil Scavengers broke open abandoned radiation therapy PLAY machine and sold kilocuries of Cs-137
3 2000 Thailand Thieves stole teletherapy unit from parking lot, removed Co-60 shielding, and sold for scrap metal
* Wikipedia, Civilian Radiation Accidents, 6-28-2009 Global Deaths Due to High Level Radiation* (CONTINUED)
Category # Date Place Incident______ACCIDENTAL 1 1989 El Salvador Worker entered Co-60 radiation zone of medical OVER- sterilizer machine EXPOSURE 1 1990 Israel Worker bypassed safety system on commercial irradiation facility; received 10 Gy 1 1991 Belarus Same error as above: received 11 to 20 Gy 13 1996 Costa Rica Co-60 machine improperly calibrated (60% overdose) (IAEA Report – Module XIX) TOTAL = 31
NOTE #1: In April of 2010, a New Delhi scrap dealer suffered very serious exposure to radiation after handling a cobalt-60 source. Six pieces of this dangerous material were recovered from the scrap pile. One person died and six others were sickened. NOTE #2: Abel Gonzales has noted additional incidents in Brazil, Belarus, Turkey, Iran, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Thailand, Poland, Panama, Russia, Estonia, and Georgia where some 200 citizens were overexposed in radiation accidents.
* Wikipedia, Civilian Radiation Accidents, 6-28-2009
Global Deaths Due to High Level Radiation* (CONTINUED)
SPECIAL CASE • Radioactive steel scavenged from nuclear reactor melted into rebar • Used for constructing approximately 1700 apartments units/shops in Taiwan • From 1982 to a 9-20 year period, ~ 10,000 people exposed to low level radiation (average accumulated dose ~ 400 mSv) • Many still living in these apartments • CLAIM: Over 40 deaths due to cancer
• BUT…In this population over this time, actual cancer deaths only 3% of cancer deaths expected from natural causes. • Hence, the argument is made that this low level radiation SAVED many lives due to hormesis effect**
* Wikipedia, Civilian Radiation Accidents, 6-28-2009 ** W.L. Chen, et. al, Effects of Cobalt-60 Exposure on Health of Taiwan Residents Suggest New Approach Needed in Radiation Protection, Dose Response, 2007 5(1):63-75, PM C2477708 7.6 5.2 51.5 4.8 4.4.5 4.05 3.95 Blue Boxes 3.9 In mSv 3.8 3.4 3.35 3.25 3.25 3.2 2.95 2.9 2.15 1.45 0.8
Average Annual Dose from Natural Radiation Sources Harnessing Radiation
1. Material Penetration
• Degree of beam attenuation determines thickness of material
• Metal foil and paper manufactured by this process 2. Heat Source
• Alpha and beta particles stop within short distances of their origins • Substantial heat is generated in this process • Heat can be used to generate electricity (e.g. thermoelectric effect) • Such sources used in space probes (e.g. Viking mission to Mars) 3. Particle Emission
• Gamma rays can penetrate through substantial material • Hence, isotopes that emit gamma rays can be attached to fluid materials & then continuously monitored vs time • Such tracing techniques are used to map groundwater movement, detect pipe leaks, & diagnose ailments in the human body 4. Transmutation/Activation
• Neutrons focused on certain materials will transmute the target material into a new radioisotope • The target material can then be identified by analyzing the radioactivity of the newly formed radionuclide • This technique is often used in criminology investigations and for revealing explosives in airport luggage 5. Change Molecular Structure
• Bombarding some materials with high enough levels of tailored radiation will break molecular bonds
• This changes the chemistry and structure of materials
• Sample products are tough plastics & special rubber for tires 6. Cell Destruction
• In a more macro scale, controlled amounts of beta particles or gamma rays can be used to break DNA bonds, thereby killing undesirable cells (e.g. insects & pathogens)
• This process is used to sterilize hospital equipment, suppress sprouting in vegetables, and kill cancer cells
7. Decay Time
• Knowing the half-life of certain radioactive species, aging analyses are possible – Archeological artifacts – Age of the earth – Prehistoric climate changes – Industrial age climate stability 8. Luminescence
• Some radioactive materials (e.g. tritium) can produce wave lengths in target materials that are visible to the human eye
• Routine uses include lighting for airport runways
• 100% reliable & self contained 9. Ionization
• Sufficiently high energy radiation will knock off electrons in surrounding media
• Media becomes electrically charged 10. X-Ray Fluorescence
• Monochromatic X-rays focused on a material of unknown composition
• Inner shell electron ejected
• Outer shell electrons move to inner shells, emitting an X-ray characteristic of unknown material 11. Neutron Slowing Down
• A burst of fast neutrons injected into a medium
Neutrons will slow down rapidly if the medium is rich in protons (i.e. water)
• Excellent way to determine moisture content 12. Neutron or Gamma Scattering
• The identity of unknown material can sometimes be determined by measuring the scattering angle of a focused beam of incident neutrons or gamma rays 13. Fission
• Very heavy fissile isotopes (e.g. U-235, Pu-239) will likely undergo fission (i.e. break apart) upon absorbing a neutron
• The mass lost in the process is converted into energy E= mc2 (energy = mass times the speed of light squared)
• Two fission fragments usually result, along with 2 or 3 neutrons to continue the chain reaction 14. Fusion
• Very light isotopes (e.g. deuterium, tritium), if brought together at very high velocities (i.e. very high temperatures), will fuse together, forming a new element.
• The mass lost in the process is converted into an immense amount of energy E= mc2 (energy = mass times the speed of light squared)
AGRICULTURE • Optimizing Water and Fertilizer Use • Speed Breeding of Improved Crops – Greater yield – Increased disease resistance – Better nutritional value • Improved Animal Production – Increase body weight – Vaccines to eliminate diseases • Insect Control – Sterilization (screw worm, Mediterranean fruit flies, gypsy moths) • Improved Food Safety (Food Irradiation) – Kill bacteria, molds, yeasts, parasites, insects – Extend shelf life Optimizing Water & Fertilizer Use
• Higher Crop Production – Fertilizer: • Label (tracer property) to determine optimal effectiveness • Minimize fertilizer needed – Water: • Neutron moisture gauges to determine proton content (moisture) • Speed Breeding of Improved Crops New Species: • Increased crop yields (reduced fertilizer use) • Better disease, pest, & draught resistance (less pesticides & water) • Enhanced maturing times (allows crop rotation) • Improved nutritional value • Improved quality • Improved processing quality • Enhanced customer acceptance – Color; flavor > 30 nations have developed ~ 2250 new crop varieties (radiation used in 89% of these!)
Impact of Radiation in Crop Development
• Over 30 countries now use mutant varieties
• Most prominent are – China (26.8%) – India (11.5%) – USSR/Russia (9.3%) – The Netherlands (7.8%) – USA (5.7%) – Japan (5.3%) Forms of Radiation Used
• Of all the crop mutations in present use, 89% derived from radiation processes (remainder are primarily chemical)
– 64% via gamma rays – 22% via x-rays – Remainder from fast and thermal neutrons (and other radiation) Mutant Varieties (cultivars)
Grains: Rice, barley, wheat, beans, lentils, peas,… Other Crops: Cotton, soybeans, peppermint,… Fruits: Apples, cherries, oranges, peaches, grapefruit, … Flowers: Chrysanthemums, roses, dahlias,…
Of the 2250 cultivars, 70% are direct mutants 30% are derived from mutant parents 75% are crops 25% are ornamental Rice
• Rice is the major source of food for over 50% of the global population—especially in Asia • 434 mutant varieties (one half from gamma radiation) • Egypt: Semi-dwarf varieties increased average production to 8.9 t/ha (compared to 3.8 t/ha world average), i.e. double! • Japan: 18 mutant varieties $927M in 1997 • Thailand: Largest exporter of aromatic rice in the world From 1989 to 1998, produced $16.9B of milled rice! Wheat
• Italy: 1974, Durham wheat ‘Creso’ mutant developed – By 1984, this mutant reached 53.3% of Italian market – $180M/year ($1.8B in single decade)
Over 50% of Pasta in Italy due to radiation!
• Pakistan: 3 mutant varieties have provided $47M to farmers in 5-year period Cotton
• Pakistan: High-yielding cotton mutant NIAB-78 – Produced by gamma rays – Released in 1983 – Shorter stature, better growth, heat tolerant, resistant to bollworm attack due to early maturity – Ideal cotton-wheat rotation planting • Marked influence in sustaining Pakistan textile industry (whole industry threatened by insects) – Within 5 years of release, Pakistan cotton production doubled! – Within 10 years of release, over $3.0B in cotton production
SOY
Un- Irradiated Irradiated
BRAZIL: Soy plantation with irradiated turfa
• Biggest consumer and producer • 23,7 millions of hectares (60% - 70% of total area) • Economy of US$ 2,5 billions of nitrogen/year Compliments Wilson Calvo • Productivity of soy increase 8% Flowers
• 522 mutant cultivars recorded by year 2000 – However, many not counted • Commercial companies keep much of this as trade secret—and do not report • Goals: Change flower color, shape, size, shelf life – Sometimes select cultivar with pink flowers, and then irradiate the cuttings to get red, white, & yellow mutants • Major Varieties: – Chrysanthemums (232) Begonia (25) – Rose (61) Carnation (I18) – Dahlia (36) Azalea (15) – Alstroemeria (35) Bougainvillea (12) – Streptocarpus (30) Achimenes (8) • Improved Animal Production – Nutrition: • Labeling food with C-14 allows tracing specific food products throughout the digestive system
• Example: Multi-nutrient lick block for buffalos in Indonesia – Increased weight gain at rate of 3 Kg/week – Reduced grass consumption by 80%
– Vaccinations: (radiation tracers) • Example: Rinderpest (“cattle plague”) – Millions of cattle have died in Africa – Disease now eradicated in 16 of 18 African countries
• Insect Control – Chemical Treatments: • Create environmental pollution • Toxic residues remain in food chain • Insects develop tolerance to insecticides – Requiring increasingly higher doses
– Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) • Produce or capture large numbers of insects and sterilize them • Release them into their native environment • No offspring! – Tsetse fly eradicated in parts of Africa (allowing human settlement) – Other examples: Mediterranean fruit fly, Mexican fruit fly, Boll Weevil • Improved Food Safety – Magnitude of Problem • Infestation & spoilage prevents ~ 50% of food grown in many parts of the world to be wasted • Spoilage of sea food sometimes as high as 90% • In the United States every year – Over 76,000,000 cases of food poisoning – Over 325,000 hospitalizations – Over 5,000 deaths – Historic Food Preservation Techniques • Sun drying Salting • Smoking Canning • Heating Freezing • Chemical treatments (e.g. methyl bromide) • Food Irradiation – Beta particles or gamma rays will kill bacteria & pathogens by breaking DNA bonds • (particularly effective during reproductive cycle) – Specific pathogens targeted include: • Salmonella • E-coli (0157:H7) • Listeria monocytogenes
– NOTE: Goal is not to totally eliminate contamination • Some pathogens necessary in body to stimulate immune system • ~5 orders of magnitude reduction generally sufficient
Application to Food Industries
• Hygienic production and safe distribution • Stable supply of agricultural commodities • Efficient and scientific quarantine measures Cost of Disinfection Treatments
Treatment US$/Ton Hot water 250 Steam treatment 200 - 250 Refrigeration 46 - 600 Controlled atmosphere 50 - 600 Irradiation 25 - 55
(IAEA, 2008)
Compliments Ju-Woon Lee, KAERI GAMMA IRRADIATOR
Compliments of W. Burkart, IAEA
Radura Symbol that Labels Irradiated Food Patients’ meals
Compliments Ju-Woon Lee ,KAERI Emergency food in National Calamity
Compliments Ju-Woon Lee, KAERI
Sanitation of Ice cream
Irradiation
No changes in sensory
Heat with pressure Not ice cream
No ice cream flavor
Compliments Ju-Woon Lee, KAERI • Status of Food Irradiation – Studied for over 40 years – Over 36 nations produce some irradiated food – Approved by wide body of scientific bodies; • World Health Organization • American Medical Association • etc. – United States status • FDA approval for spices, poultry, red meat, … • Fish and prepared products still pending • Used by astronauts, open heart patients, etc. • Major supermarkets carrying some irradiated food – Albertsons, Safeway, Giant Eagle, Winn-Dixie • Recently required for National School Lunch Program
Industrial scale of food irradiation 2004&2005: GIA Estimates, 2006-2010: GIA Projections
Total income (million$ 2,000
1,750
1,500
1,250
1,000
750
500
250
)
0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Year
Compliments Ju-Woon Lee, KAERI MODERN INDUSTRY • Process Control – Thickness Gauges (sheet metal, paper, textiles) – Density & Level Gauges (oil and food industries) Plant Diagnostics – Tracers (pipeline leaks, malfunctions, wear and corrosion) • Materials Development – Cross linking (e.g. heat shrink) – Gamma curing (e.g. floors) – Vulcanization (e.g. tires) • Materials Testing and Inspection – Engine wear – Welds in airplanes, oil and gas pipelines – Corrosion in pipes
Nuclear Gauges
Film Thickness Paper Thickness
QUALITY CONTROL
Beverage Level
Oil Level
Compliments of Prof. Ilham Al-Qaradawi Nuclear Gauges
PROCESS Mineral Level CONTROL Mineral Weight
Mud Flow Liquid Flow
Compliments of Prof. Ilham Al-Qaradawi GAMMA SCANNING and INDUSTRIAL PROCESS CONTROL
Flow Rate Residence Time Distribution
Troubleshooting Leak Detection
Gamma Scanning
Source: IAEA & Wilson Calvo Determining Corrosion in Pipes Sandpaper…Three radiation steps are used in the production process Cereal Boxes…Filled Using Radiation Detectors RDI Radiation Dynamics, Inc. - DYNAMITRONS
DC 1500/25/4 – JOB 188 DPC 2000 – JOB 307
Energy: 1.5 MeV Energy: 1.5 MeV Beam current: 25 mA Beam current: 65 mA Scan: 48” (120 mm) Scan: 48” (120 mm) Power: 150 kW Power: 225 kW Beam power: 37.5 kW Beam power: 97.5 kW Dose rate: 1.07 - 161.67 kGy/s Dose rate: 3.33 - 325 kGy/s Source: IPEN/CNEN-SP Compliments Wilson Calvo INDUSTRIAL ELECTRON BEAM ACCELERATORS
37.5kW (1.5MeV and 25mA)
Conveyer: 0.42 - 6.72 m/min 37.5kW (1.5MeV and 25mA) Source: IPEN-CNEN/SP Compliments Wilson Calvo IRRADIATION OF WIRE AND ELECTRIC CABLES
Source: IPEN-CNEN/SP Compliments Wilson Calvo HEAT SHRINKABLE TUBES IRRADIATION
Heat Shrinkable tubes (80-200kGy)
Source: IPEN-CNEN/SP Compliments Wilson Calvo Semiconductor production
• Neutron-induced conversion of silicon to semiconductor (transmutation doping) • Neutron irradiation of silicon generates trace amount of phosphorous by a nuclear reaction. • The silicon semiconductor production method using this reaction is called neutron transmutation doping. • This is a special technique which is essential for the production of high quality semiconductors. Compliments of Prof. Ilham Al-Qaradawi INDUSTRY (CONT.) • Energy (Non-Nuclear) – Gamma sources to determine ash content in coal plants – Borehole logging (oil well prospecting) – Gamma sources to determine material failures in oil refineries – E-Beam processing to remove sulfur and nitrogen oxides from flu gas
Analyzing the Quality of Coal on Conveyor Belt Bore Hole Logging with Nuclear Source & Detector System Using Radiation Devices to Check Oil Refinery Operations Electron Beam System for Cleaning Coal-Fired Flue Gas Nuclear Process Heat
Synthetic crude oil from coal - A nuclear source of hydrogen + nuclear process heat double the liquid hydrocarbons and eliminate most CO2 emissions
Liberate oil from tar sands Compliments Ian Hore-Lacey INDUSTRY (CONT.) • Personal Care –Contact lens solution –Band-Aids, –Cosmetics –High absorption baby diapers –Soft drinks
Cosmetics…Irradiated to Remove Harmful Impurities Soda Pop…Radiation Used in Making and Filling the Cans TRANSPORTATION • Cars and Trucks – Engine Wear – Structure and body materials – Tires – Glass • Airplanes – Structure and body materials – Weld inspections • Trains – Rail inspections • Ship Power – Submarines – Icebreakers – Surface Ships Measuring Engine Wear On-Line With Irradiation Transport: Electromobility
• Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles & EVs • Charge off-peak
GM Volt/ Ampera 16,000 in 2012
Increase proportion as base-load
Compliments Ian Hore-Lacey Inspecting Welds on Airplane Wings with Neutron Source Determining Stresses in Railroad Rails USS Nautilus Nuclear-Powered Submarine USS Enterprise Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier USS Harry S. Truman Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier Savannah Nuclear-Powered Merchant Vessel Russian Nuclear-Powered Ice Breaker Vanguard sub
Compliments In-Hore-Lacey NS Sevmorput, 61,900 dwt LASH carrier
Compliments Ian Hore-Lacey Key Take Away Points
1. Radiation processes provide a wide variety of characteristics that can be beneficially harnessed in modern society. 2. Low levels of radiation are not harmful to the human body. Some researchers even believe low levels are beneficial. 3. Agriculture, industry, and transportation sectors all benefit enormously from harnessed radiation.
BREAK TIME!!