Transport of Cobalt 60 from the Argentine
Nuclear Power Plant in Embalse
López Vietri, J.R.
Presentado en: 12th International Congress of the International Radiation Protection Association.
Buenos Aires, Argentina, 19-24 octubre 2008.
Este trabajo se presentó oralmente durante el evento.
TRANSPORT OF COBALT 60
FROM THE ARGENTINE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN
EMBALSE*
López Vietri, J.R.
Nuclear Regulatory Authority
Argentina
Abstract
The purpose of this presentation is to point out some relevant issues related to the
transport of cobalt 60 for domestic uses and export from the Argentine Nuclear Power
Plant located in Embalse (ENPP). It is remarked that in last 22 years, ENPP produced
about 2600 PBq (70 MCi) of Co-60, and that Argentina is the third Co-60 producer,
after Canada and Russia. It is mentioned that in Argentina there are facilities which
manufacture Zyrcaloy seamless tubes and reactivity control bars containing cobalt 59
to be used in ENPP, the operation of Candu reactor at ENPP including cobalt-related
activities, and the manufacture and commercialization of Co-60 sealed sources. The
Argentine Nuclear Regulatory Authority verifies the compliance of nuclear activities with
regulatory standards, including those related to the transport of radioactive material.
Then, it is described the process for obtaining Co-60 at ENPP with an activity
concentration to allow its use in medicine and industry. After that, is considered in
detail the type of package used for the transport of Co-60 from ENPP: it is to say, Type
B(U) package designs that must be approved by the Competent Authority origin of the
design, and they are able to withstand routine, normal and accident conditions of
transport, including severe impacts, fires and immersion in water. The overall
dimensions of packages are about 1.0 m to 1.5 m diameter by 1.2 m to 1.8 m high, as
well as the gross mass could vary from 6500 kg to 9500 kg. Radioactive contents
consist of Co-60 sealed sources (called pencils), with an activity range from 8 PBq to
16 PBq. Then, it is considered activities prior to dispatch of Type B(U) packages at
ENPP, including the preparation of radioactive contents, packaging and package
(labelling and marking) as well as necessary tests and documentation for transport in
order to fulfil pertinent requirements of package design operation manual of the
package and related standards. Finally, it is pointed out the Type B(U) package tiedown system to the vehicle, and the proper placards of the loaded vehicle ready to
dispatch.
*
Presentación oral
295