Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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Planning and decommissioning of a disused Theratron- 780 teletherapy machine and the dose assessment methodology for normal and radiological emergency conditions

  • Mohamed M.Elsayed Breky (Radiation Protection Department, Hot Labs and Radioactive Waste Management Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority) ;
  • Muhammad S. Mansy (Radioactive Waste Management Unit, Hot Labs and Radioactive Waste Management Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority) ;
  • A.A. El-Sadek (Radioisotope and Radioactive Generator Department, Hot Labs and Radioactive Waste Management Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority) ;
  • Yousif M. Mousa (Radioactive Waste Management Unit, Hot Labs and Radioactive Waste Management Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority) ;
  • Yasser T. Mohamed (Radioactive Waste Management Unit, Hot Labs and Radioactive Waste Management Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority)
  • Received : 2022.01.02
  • Accepted : 2022.08.21
  • Published : 2023.01.25
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Abstract

The present work represents a technical guideline for decommissioning a disused teletherapy machine model Theratron-780 and contains category one 60Co radioactive source. The first section predicts the dose rate from the source in case of normal and radiological emergency situations via FLUKA-MC simulation code. Moreover, the dose assessment for the occupational during the whole process is calculated and compared to the measured values. A suggested cordoned area for safety and security in a radiological emergency is simulated. The second section lists the whole process's technical procedures, including (preview, dismantle, securing, transport and storage) of the disused teletherapy machine. Results show that the maximum obtained accumulated dose for occupational were found to be 24.5 ± 4.9 μSv in the dismantle and securing process in addition to 3.5 ± 1.8 μSv during loading on the transport vehicle and unloading at the storage facility. It was found that the measured accumulated dose for workers is in good agreement with the estimated one by uncertainty not exceeding 5% in normal operating conditions.

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