Cooperation between SSTC NRS and the EU in the Area of Nuclear Safety

The paper first briefly outlines the main characteristics of the EU assistance programs aimed to enhance nuclear safety in the Beneficiary countries. Then EU assistance provided to the Ukrainian regulator (SNRIU) is detailed, with specific emphasis on projects enhancing the capabilities of SSTC NRS as technical support organisation (TSO) to SNRIU, including training and tutoring (T&T) activities. The changing role of SSTC NRS in the cooperation activities is described as well. The broad range of cooperation is then illustrated by some selected projects focusing on various technical areas (e.g. severe accident management and mitigation, radioactive waste and spent fuel management, NPP service time extension, plant performance monitoring and operating experience feedback). Finally, the paper briefly discusses the future perspectives of the nuclear safety cooperation between the EU and UkraineНа початку статті коротко викладені основні характеристики програм підтримки ЄС, спрямованих на підвищення ядерної безпеки в країнах-бенефіціарах. Далі детально описується підтримка ЄС, що надається українському регулюючому органу (ДІЯРУ) з акцентом на проекти, спрямовані на розширення можливостей ДНТЦ ЯРБ як організації технічної підтримки (ОТП) ДІЯРУ, охоплюючи навчання і наставництво. Описується зміна ролі ДНТЦ ЯРБ у заходах зі співробітництва, широкий спектр співпраці в рамках деяких вибраних проектів з акцентом на різні технічні області (наприклад, управління важкими аваріями і пом’якшення наслідків, поводження з радіоактивними відходами та відпрацьованим паливом, продовження терміну експлуатації АЕС, контроль робочих характеристик станції та обмін досвідом експлуатації). Стисло обговорюються майбутні перспективи співпраці ЄС та України у сфері ядерної безпеки.В начале статьи кратко изложены основные характеристики программ поддержки ЕС, направленных на повышение ядерной безопасности в странах-бенефициарах. Далее подробно описывается поддержка ЕС, предоставляется украинском регулирующему органу (ГИЯРУ) с акцентом на проекты, направленные на расширение возможностей ГНТЦ ЯРБ как организации технической поддержки (ОТП) ГИЯРУ, включая обучение и наставничество. Описывается изменение роли ГНТЦ ЯРБ в мероприятиях по сотрудничеству, широкий спектр сотрудничества в рамках некоторых выбранных проектов с акцентом на различные технические области (например, управление тяжелыми авариями и смягчения последствий, обращение с радиоактивными отходами и отработанным топливом, продление срока эксплуатации АЭС, контроль рабочих характеристик станции и обмен опытом эксплуатации). Кратко обсуждаются будущие перспективы сотрудничества ЕС и Украины в сфере ядерной безопасности

Extremity ring dosimetry intercomparison in reference and workplace fields

An intercomparison of ring dosemeters has been organised with the aim of assessing the technical capabilities of available extremity dosemeters and focusing on their performance at clinical workplaces with potentially high extremity doses. Twenty-four services from 16 countries participated in the intercomparison. The dosemeters were exposed to reference photon (137Cs) and beta (147Pm, 85Kr and 90Sr/90Y) fields together with fields representing realistic exposure situations in interventional radiology (direct and scattered radiation) and nuclear medicine (99 mTc and 18F). It has been found that most dosemeters provided satisfactory measurements of Hp(0.07) for photon radiation, both in reference and realistic fields. However, only four dosemeters fulfilled the established requirements for all radiation qualities. The main difficulties were found for the measurement of low-energy beta radiation. Finally, the results also showed a general under-response of detectors to 18F, which was attributed to the difficulties of the dosimetric systems to measure the positron contribution to the dos

Active personal dosemeters in interventional radiology: tests in laboratory conditions and in hospitals

The work package 3 of the ORAMED project, Collaborative Project (2008-11) supported by the European Commission within its seventh Framework Programme, is focused on the optimisation of the use of active personal dosemeters (APDs) in interventional radiology and cardiology (IR/IC). Indeed, a lack of appropriate APD devices is identified for these specific fields. Few devices can detect low-energy X rays (20-100 keV), and none of them are specifically designed for working in pulsed radiation fields. The work presented in this paper consists in studying the behaviour of some selected APDs deemed suitable for application in IR/IC. For this purpose, measurements under laboratory conditions, both with continuous and pulsed X-ray beams, and tests in real conditions on site in different European hospitals were performed. This study highlights the limitations of APDs for this application and the need of improving the APD technology so as to fulfil all needs in the IR/IC fiel

Test of active personal dosimeters for interventional radiology in realistic radiation fields

Abstract. In Interventional radiology, the medical staff stands close to the patient during his exposure to X-rays. Consequently, they can be exposed to relatively high doses due to radiation scattered by the patient and the medical equipment. Contrary to the passive dosemeters which assess the doses a posteriori, APDs are able to warn the medical staff when doses and/or dose rates exceed pre-defined radiation protection limits. At interventional radiology workplaces, APDs must be able to measure low-energy photons (10-120 keV) and pulsed radiations with relatively high instantaneous dose rates delivered by medical X-rays generators. Six ADP models, considered as suitable for application in interventional radiology on the basis of the results of a previous comparison jointly organised by EURADOS and IAEA, were selected to carry out a new comparison in 2007. This included radiation fields able to mimic the scattered and pulsed X-ray radiation fields met at workplace in hospitals. Irradiations took place at CEA-LIST LNHB (Saclay, France) and IRSN (Fontenay-aux-Roses, France). This paper describes the irradiation assemblies both for realistic and classic calibration facilities. The reference values of the personal dose equivalent, H p (10), were determined through measurements and simulations to calculate the response of the APDs. The results shed light on the ability of APDs to measure correctly the doses, when used in the specific low-energy spectra and dose rates of pulsed Xrays encountered in interventional radiology