Current Status and Prospects of
Industrial Radioisotope
Technologies in RCA Region
IAEA/RCA Final Progress Meeting of RCA Project RAS/8/107
&
Planning Meeting of RCA Project RAS/8/111
Bangkok, Thailand
09 - 17 March 2009
Dr. Gursharan Singh
[INDIA]
IAEA/RCA Lead Country Coordinator
Thematic Sector - Industry – 2007- 08
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Contents
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Introduction about RCA region.
Why we need RCA Projects.
Major requirements.
Measurements involved.
Radiotracer & Sealed Source applications in RCA
MSs.
 Present status and future scope.
 Comments
 Conclusions.
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RCA Countries
 DEVELOPED
 DEVELOPING
 LEAST DEVELOPED
PROJECT SELECTION, IMPLEMENTATION
AND
PROGRESS
DEPENDS
UPON
RESOURCE
AVAILABILITY
AND
KNOWLEDGE BASE.
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Why Do We Need RCA Projects ?
Technology demonstration/ sharing is needed for;
 Developing MSs as the latest technology is not available
due to high cost of equipment /denial by the advanced
countries.
 Industry to meet new and stringent requirement of material
quality and performance.
 Demonstration of new techniques for troubleshooting and
process optimizing is needed for operating process
industries to reduce inspection times and thus increase
productivity,
economic benefits and prosperity for
alleviation of poverty.
 Demonstration of new techniques is also needed to meet
the present day societal requirements including prevailing
security concerns.
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Major Requirements
[For carrying out projects under the Industry Sector]
 Different types of radiotracers and cheaper and portable
sealed sources.
 Appropriate Radiation Detection and analysis Systems
 Accurate Data Generation
 Trained/ licensed staff for radiation work
 Knowledgeable persons for Data Analysis and
Interpretation
 Governmental support.
 Collaborators for technology development, use and
propagation.
 Mechanism for technology transfer to end - users.
Non- availability of any of these requirements can adversely
affect the Critical Success Factors in the implementation
plan to meet anticipated project objectives.
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Principle of Radioisotope Applications
 Directing /Injecting Suitable Radiation on/in the Test
Material/System
 Observing the Modified Radiation Pattern in
Transmitted, Backscattered or other Modified form
 Analysis of modified radiation pattern w.r.t inside
structure/process parameters of the inspected
system.
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Measurements Involved
 Radioactivity detection
 Measurement of RTD
 Radiation spectrum analysis
 Modeling and data analysis
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Leakage and blockage detection & location in
underground pipe lines & other industrial
systems including heat exchangers
Flow rate Measurement
Residence Time Distribution Analysis
Mixing time measurements
Efficient management of dredging operations at
Ports.
Inter - well Tracing for Enhanced Oil Recovery
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Sealed Source Applications in RCA MS
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Gamma scanning of process columns
Process tomography
Nucleonic gauges/NCS
NAS
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New Applications in RCA MS
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FCCU
Coal Gasifiers
Trickle bed reactors
WWTP
Validation of CFD codes
Development of radiotracer generators
Nano-particles as tracers
Application of stable isotopes in oil fields
Radioactive particle tracking
Development of advanced instrumentation
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View of FCCU
Stripper
Regenerator
Riser
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Conventional Visbreaker
Modified Visbreaker
Dead Zones
Coke deposition on
the walls
Internals
Dead Zones
Feed
Feed
Detrimental effects arising out of liquid backmixing are:
•Overcracking of products,leading to frequent shutdowns
•Poor product quality
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Radiotracer Investigation in Coal Gasifiers
Coal Gasification is a new developing echo friendly technique
for power generation.
Gasification: High temperature conversion of solid fuel into
gaseous fuel [H, CO] under the action of air & steam.
•Gas based system gives better efficiency
•Radiotracers are applied to validate reactor design, for
extracting maximum power and to get better carbon conversion
efficiency.
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Schematic of Coal Gasifier pilot plant at BHEL, Hyderabad
D4
D3
Gas to cleaning and
cooling system
Cyclone
Coal feed
hopper
Fines to
combustor
Freeboard
Tracer
Injection
D1
Gasifier
Air&Steam in
D2
DAS
D1 D2 D3 D4
Ash extraction
hopper
Valve
To ash collection
tray
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Dredging is the deepening or widening of a
channel for the passage of ships.
By removal of anything forming part of or projecting from the
bed of the sea.
Radiotracer Application confirms dumping site predicted by
models.
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Application of Tracer Technology for Water Treatment Plants in Korea
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New Project : RAS/8/111
Title: Diagnosing Industrial Multiphase Systems by
Process Visualization using Radiotracers and Sealed
Sources (RCA)
 Objective: To improve the performance of the region’s
industries, reduce pollution and make optimum use of
natural resources and energy by promoting and
transferring the technologies for process gamma
tomography and radiotracer studies incorporated with
computer modeling and simulation technologies in a
sustainable manner so that they can be used to improve
the performance of multiphase systems in the region’s
chemical, petrochemical and petroleum industries and
associated wastewater treatment processes and to
promote use of the technologies by industrial end users.
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Constraints for successful implementation of the project
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Lack of trained man-power.
Lack of equipment.
Lack of software.
Lack of Administrative infrastructure.
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Comments
 Making difficult things simple is Difficult.
 Making simple things difficult is Simple.
 Person behind the machine is important. Sufficient
knowledge base has been created in previous cycles to
effectively undertake the activities under the new cycle.
 Based on our visit yesterday to University, I suggest to all
NPCs to take proactive role and initiate low cost, simple
version of costly equipment needed for propagating the
technology initiated under the previous RCA Project and for
the new project.
 Radiation protection of workers and members of public from
the normal operations in both these projects is not a major
concern. Hence, through trained manpower and by effective
regulatory control, the use of these applications can be further
augmented.
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Conclusions
1. As discussed yesterday, the project RAS/8/107
under the thematic sector industry, has made
significant progress with visible outputs and
performance indicators and has met the intended
objectives.
2. These applications have contributed
increased industrial productivity and
quality for the MSs.
towards
product
3. The level of progress, though satisfactory, is not
uniform in all the member states. This is due to
different levels of resource availability in MSs.
4. However, with the increased awareness about the
usefulness of these applications, the progress in
future cycles is expected to improve more rapidly.
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THANK
YOU
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