H-Coal Pilot Plant: Radiation Safety (With Separate Proprietary Appendix). Rev

摘要

During the design phase of the H-Coal Pilot Plant the instrumentation evaluation for the high pressure vessels indicated the need for nuclear gauges. Therefore, thirty-eight nuclear gauges were installed on 18 vessels at the plant. Their uses ranged from empty/full switches to determining the density of a flowing hydrocarbon stream. Installation and use of nuclear gauges requires a Radioactive Material License granted by Kentucky Department for Human Resources Radiation Control Branch. The processing time from application to license issuance was 13 months. The Radiation Safety Program involved preparing Vessel Energy procedures, marking vessels, writing a Nuclear Safety Manual, and holding training sessions for plant employees. In addition to training personnel in the use of the nuclear gauges, monitoring of the instruments was required. Monitoring was accomplished by wipe testing, surveys and exposure badges. All monitoring results clearly demonstrated the safety of the nuclear gauges. ASFI made any needed repairs and elected on a few installations to add a small amount of shielding to lower the radiation field intensity. These cases were only minor and never involved any risk to plant personnel. The experience at the H-Coal Plant with nuclear gauges has shown them to be safe and sound instruments. Monitoring was performed more often than required, and it can be done less frequently at similar installations. The Radiation Safety Program with its signs, documents, procedures and training sessions was quite successful. Many of the Program's features are applicable in any plant with nuclear gauges. (ERA citation 09:001754)