Works ordered by the South Ukraine NPP

Customer: SSE South Ukraine NPP, Ukraine

In 2014, performance of activities under this order included 4 projects.

Project 1. Development of measurement procedure for the level of radioactive contamination on the surfaces of operating areas, equipment and vehicles of the South Ukraine NPP

Radioactive contamination on the surfaces of operating areas and equipment of the South Ukraine NPP can be a source of both external and internal exposure of personnel. In parallel to the monitoring of other radioactive contamination factors, it is necessary to measure contamination levels on the working surfaces of the areas, equipment and vehicles. Therefore, an appropriate certified measurement procedure is required.

We developed the measurement procedure for radioactive contamination (general and removable) of the surfaces having beta-emitting radionuclides with threshold energy of beta radiation spectrum exceeding 0.15 MeV. The procedure was certified by the National Science Centre “Institute of Metrology” (Kharkiv) in accordance with GOST 8.010-99. Certificate of attestation # 07-179:2014 dated August 26, 2014.

According to the contract, the research results were handed to the Customer.

Project 2. Development of measurement procedure for radiation parameters on the industrial site of the South Ukraine NPP

The radiological dosimetry monitoring on the NPP industrial site is ensured by measurements of the radiation parameters including ambient equivalent dose rate (AEDR) and beta-particle flux density (BPFD) that form a part of the measurement and calculation system used to estimate doses of personnel exposure and radiation conditions of operating space and environment (SP AS-88). The appropriate allowable levels were established for these radiation parameters by the national hygienic regulations DHN 6.6.1.-6.5.001-98. Within the framework of the contract, we developed the procedure to ensure the measurements.

The procedure ensures measurement of the following:

• AEDR of X-ray and gamma radiation within the range between 0.05 to 107 µSv/h within the energy range from 0.015 to 3 MeV;
• exposure dose rate (EDR) of X-ray and gamma radiation within the range between 3 and 3·104 µSv/h within the energy range from 0.015 to 3 MeV;
• beta particles flux density within range between 1 and 5·105 particles/cm2 · min1 within the energy range from 0.155 to 3.5 MeV.

The procedure was certified by the National Science Centre “Institute of Metrology” (Kharkiv) in accordance with GOST 8.010-99. Certificate of attestation # 07-183:2014 dated October 20, 2014.

According to the contract, the research results were handed to the Customer.

Project 3. Development of measurement procedure for the volumetric activity of 131I in the air of gas & airborne emissions from air ducts of the South Ukraine NPP

Within the framework of the contractual activities, IRL experts developed the measurement procedure for the volumetric activity of 131I in the air of gas & airborne emissions from air ducts of the South Ukraine NPP.

When using control channels of the subsystem of auto monitoring system for gas & airborne emissions, PDAS-02P, the procedure allows measuring volumetric activity of 131I (I2 in molecular form) averaged by the volume of gas & airborne emissions within the following range:
• between 30 and 2.5·107 Bq/m3 (combined gamma channel of 02P-PDAS);
• between 8 and 3·107 Bq/m3 (non-combined gamma channel of 02P-PDAS).

When using control channels of the radiation monitoring subsystem for gas & airborne emissions under the SU NPP’s “Nuclon” automatic radiation monitoring system, the procedure allows measuring the volumetric activity of 131I (in molecular and organic forms) averaged by the volume of gas & airborne emissions within the range between 3.7 and 3.7·107 Bq/m3.

When using gamma radiation energy spectrometers with semiconductor detectors, the procedure allows measuring the volumetric activity of all the forms of 131I (airborne, molecular, organic) in the air of gas & airborne emission within the range between 0.3 and 1,9·107 Bq/m3.

The procedure was certified by the National Science Centre “Institute of Metrology” (Kharkiv) in accordance with GOST 8.010-99. Certificate of attestation # 07-184:2014 dated October 28, 2014 and handed to the Customer.

Project 4. Development of measurement procedure for gamma radiation dose rate and afield river dose within the sanitary protection zone and surveillance zone of the South Ukraine NPP

We developed the procedure that envisages measuring the parameters of photon field of ionizing radiation during continuous, episodic and periodic monitoring of radiation conditions within the sanitary protection zone and surveillance zone of the South Ukraine NPP. The procedure was certified by the National Science Centre “Institute of Metrology” (Kharkiv) in accordance with GOST 8.010-99. Certificate of attestation # 07-180:2014 dated August 26, 2014.

The research results were handed to the Customer.

In 2017, works on the subject “Development of the procedure for express determination of strontium-90 content in the environmental samples using sorbent SR” were performed.

The urgency of this work is stipulated by the need to monitor 90Sr content in the environmental objects of the NPP control area.