Development of a field well head safety system for use with radiation generating devices

• Published in: Safety science 2003-12, Vol.41 (10), p.877-886
• Main Authors: Keegan, Raymond P, Carlos Lopez, J, McGrath, Christopher A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Bore hole; CONFIGURATION; DESIGN; GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE; INEEL; INTERLOCKS; IONIZING RADIATIONS; Medical sciences; Neutron generator; NEUTRON GENERATORS; Neutron probe; NEUTRONS; Occupational medicine; PERSONNEL; PROBES; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; RADIATIONS; SAFETY; Subsurface medium; TESTING; Well head safety system
• ISSN: 0925-7535; 1879-1042
• DOI: 10.1016/S0925-7535(02)00048-6

This paper discusses the design, testing and application of a new interlock system for field use with neutron generating bore hole probes at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. Such probes produce 14 MeV neutrons at a yield up to 3×10 8 neutrons/s, and present an ionizing radiation hazard to personnel particularly when operated in an unshielded configuration. This interlock system prevents personnel from being exposed to the relatively high radiation fields caused by an unsafe condition when an operating neutron generator probe is withdrawn from a well in the ground. An electromechanical interlock prototype system has been designed, built and tested, and has been found to be effective at preventing this event. The design is simple, is effective in mitigating the hazard, and can be installed in minutes. The system could be modified to interlock radiation-generating devices other than neutron generators that are used in similar environments.