Radioactive Sources Applications and Alternative Technologies (2021) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
3 Alternative Technology Adoption and Development
3 Alternative Technology Adoption and Development
Pages 55-68
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 55... ...
This chapter examines the economic and other considerations that affect decisions related to adoption of alternatives to radioactive sources as well as efforts to develop alternative technologies. 3.1 ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO RADIOACTIVE SOURCES In this report, the primary alternative technologies considered are those that do not use a radionuclide as a source (nonradioisotopic alternatives)
|
From page 56... ...
Linacs use electromagnetic energy, typically at microwave frequencies, in resonant cavities to accelerate electrons without having to sustain very large electrical potentials. Of relevance to radioactive source replacement, they are used to create electron beams ranging from 1 to greater than 20 MeV.
|
From page 57... ...
X-rays are not produced at single energies; rather the bremsstrahlung process produces a continuous spectrum of energies. For the mean of this spectrum to be comparable to the gamma rays from cobalt, the maximum energy must be greater than the energy of the cobalt gamma rays.
|
From page 58... ...
3.3 ECONOMICS OF ADOPTING ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES Decisions about whether and when private organizations should adopt alternative technologies to replace radioactive sources are complex. To understand these complexities, the committee reviewed the basic economics of the replacement decisions (see Appendix E)
|
From page 59... ...
Public policies that internalize more of the currently external costs of radioactive sources, such as requiring larger contributions toward covering the costs of disposal, make replacement technologies relatively more attractive. Private entities can be expected to choose technologies that maximize the difference between anticipated benefits and costs, taking account of perceived risks.
|
From page 60... ...
NRC, which does not regulate radiation-emitting devices, Agreement States regulate both radioactive sources and radiation-emitting devices. Several organizations have facilitated adoption of alternative technologies, primarily by creating networks of stakeholders to raise awareness on risks and liabilities related to radioactive sources; by facilitating dialogues about performance data, costs, and the challenges of adopting alternatives; and by providing tools to support more-informed decisions.
|
From page 61... ...
There is a need for an organization or a network of organizations to take the leading role of stimulating the promotion and development of alternative technologies to radioactive sources. This entity could help enhance access to information by establishing national and international information centers (one-stop shops)
|
From page 62... ...
As of December 2020, NNSA funded four Phase I, six Phase II, and two Phase III projects on alternative technologies to radioactive sources (see Table 3.2)
|
From page 63... ...
Linac Almost complete phase- Versatility; superior None in high-income Linacs that external beam therapy out of radioactive sources treatment delivery; countries; economic, are affordable (Chapter 4) in high-income and many improved patient infrastructure; and and resilient to middle-income countries; outcome; shorter resources in LMICs interruptions to the increasing adoption in treatments electric supply LMICs Cancer treatment -- Gamma-based Linac-based Increasing adoption in Treatment site Presumed lower Technologies aiming stereotactic radiosurgery radiosurgery including radiosurgery including high-income countries; versatility; lower setup accuracy; user to reduce setup costs (Chapter 4)
|
From page 64... ...
to growing demand; revalidation compact linacs to (Chapter 5) scarcity of cobalt-60 reduce capital costs; availability; safety development of concerns and possible economical x-ray stricter regulation of sources EtO fumigation Food safety treatments Panoramic or other E-beam and x-ray Stagnant in the United Market needs Public acceptance; Development to (Chapter 5)
|
From page 65... ...
operational improvements requirements in challenging environments; costs; higher level of technical qualifications; indirect as opposed to direct imaging Industrial gauges Cesium-137, cobalt-60 Ultrasonics, Increasing Complementarity to Operational Improve ruggedness (Chapter 6) differential pressure, radioactive sources requirements of alternatives radar and guided radar in challenging in challenging environments, environments Well logging Americium-241-mixed Neutron generators Stagnant None Decline in market Equivalency studies; (Chapter 6)
|
From page 66... ...
This timeline for developing alternative technologies is likely incompatible with the political desire to eliminate high-risk radioactive sources in much shorter timelines. There is a crucial period between discovery and commercialization when critical funding may not be available to sustain the innovation process.
|
From page 67... ...
Several organizations including NNSA, the IIA, WINS, NTI, and the IAEA have facilitated the adoption of alternative technologies, primarily by creating networks for stakeholders to raise awareness on risks and liabilities related to radioactive sources; by facilitating dialogues about performance data, costs, and challenges in adoption of alternatives; and by providing decision tools. In addition to these, NNSA also funds R&D and comparison studies.
|
From page 68... ...
Recommendation E: The National Nuclear Security Administration should prioritize funding of projects that aim to develop alternatives to use of radioactive sources in applications where there are currently no acceptable nonradioisotopic alternative technologies. Today, not all radioactive sources can be replaced by an alternative technology because such a replacement technology either does not exist or it has not demonstrated that it provides equivalent or improved performance compared to a radioactive source.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.