Currently, Japan is undertaking a nationwide project to measure and map radioactive contamination around Fukushima, as part of the efforts to restore normalcy following the nuclear accident. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) manages the Fukushima Environmental Safety Center, located approximately 20 km north of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Minamisōma City, Fukushima Prefecture. In collaboration with the JAEA, this study involved conducting comparison experiments and analyses with radiation detectors in high radiation environments, a challenging task in Korean environments. Environmental radiation surveys were conducted using three types of detectors: CZT, NaI(Tl), and LaBr3(Ce), across two contaminated areas. Dose rate values were converted using dose rate conversion factors for each detector type, and dose rate maps were subsequently created and compared. The detectors yielded similar results, demonstrating their feasibility and reliability in high radiation environments. The findings of this study are expected to be a crucial reference for enhancing the verification and supplementation of procedures and methods in future radiation measurements and mobile surveys in high-radiation environments, using these three types of radiation instruments.

Concerning the apprehensions about naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) residues, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its member nations have acknowledged the imperative to ensure the radiation safety of NORM industries. Residues with elevated radioactivity concentrations are predominantly produced during NORM processing, in the form of scale and sludge, referred to as technically enhanced NORM (TENORM). Substantial quantities of TENORM residues have been released externally due to the dismantling of NORM processing factories. These residues become concentrated and fixed in scale inside scrap pipes. To assess the radioactivity of scales in pipes of various shapes, a Monte Carlo simulation was employed to determine dose rates corresponding to the action level in TENORM regulations for different pipe diameters and thicknesses. Onsite gamma spectrometry was conducted on a scrap iron pipe from the titanium dioxide manufacturing factory. The measured dose rate on the pipe enabled the estimation of NORM concentration in the pipe scale onsite. The derived action level in dose rate can be applied in the NORM regulation procedure for on-site judgments.

In-situ gamma spectrometer with mobile equipment can be used for rapid determination of radioactivity in the environment within a very short interval. 2”×2” NaI(Tl) scintillator are used to build a mobile radiation measurement system (called as Monitoring of Ambient Radiations of KAERI for Backpack, MARK-B3) with a signal processing unit, and GPS and interface units to a PC for wireless controlling system. Development of the survey system is to measure ambient gamma-ray spectrometry for estimating ground radioactivity and radiation dose in the environment. The ambient dose rate is estimated using G-factor method. For determination of G-factor, we conducted MCNP simulations in assumptions of various incident photons into the detector system. And the scintillator was exposed to Cs-137 source in the range of 1- 300 mGy/hr. Calculated dose rates for different simulation results were compared to the irradiated dose rate to derive correction factor of G-factor. To evaluate performance of the MARK-B3, in-situ gamma spectrometry was conducted in Jeju island.

Airborne surveys are an essential analysis method for rapid response and contamination identification in the early event of a radiation emergency. On the other hand, airborne surveys are far from the ground, so it is necessary to convert the dose rate at a height of 1 m above the ground. In order to improve the accuracy of the analysis value, a lot of analysis of the measurement data is required. In our previous research, we developed MARK-A1, an instrument for rapid radiation aerial survey in high radiation environment, and MARK-M1, a multipurpose instrument for radiation detection. In this study, a large unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was used to conduct airborne surveys using three types of detectors in the Jeju Island environment. The NaI(Tl) detector uses one 3-inch scintillator (38 mm φ × 38 mm H), and the LaBr3 detector uses two 2-inch scintillators (25 mm φ × 25 mm H). The CZT detector uses a detector with dimensions of (15 mm × 15 mm × 7.5 mm). The UAV has a payload of 15 kg (J10, JCH systems Inc. Seoul, Korea). Three different detectors were operated at a constant height of 20 m, 30 m, and 50 m. The flight experiments were performed in the west near Jeju City. Dose rate conversion factors were used to convert the dose rate from the measured spectra, and hovering flights were conducted between 1 and 50 meters to derive altitude correction factors. In this paper, the data measured with each detector in the same area were compared and the differences were derived.

Gamma spectrometry is one of the main analysis methods used to obtain information about unknown radioactive materials. In gamma-ray energy spectrometry, even for the same gamma-ray spectrum, the analysis results may be slightly different depending on the skill of the analyst. Therefore, it is important to increase the proficiency of the analyst in order to derive accurate analysis results. This paper describes the development of the virtual spectrum simulator program for gamma spectrometry training. This simulator program consists of an instructor module and trainee module program based on an integrated server, in which the instructor transmits a virtual spectrum of arbitrarily specified measurement conditions to the students, allowing each student to submit analysis results. It can reproduce a virtual gamma-ray energy spectrum based on virtual reality and augmented reality technique and includes analysis function for the spectrum, allowing users to experience realistic measurement and analysis online. The virtual gamma-ray energy spectrum DB program manages a database including theoretical data obtained by Monte Carlo simulation and actual measured data, which are the basis for creating a virtual spectrum. The currently developed database contains data on HPGe laboratory measurement as well as in-situ measurements (ground surface, decommissioned facility wall, radiowaste drum) of portable HPGe detectors, LaBr3(Ce) detector and NaI detector. The analysis function can be applied not only to the virtual spectrum, but also to the input measured spectrum. The parameters of the peak analysis algorithm are customizable so that even low-resolution spectra can be properly analyzed. The validity of the database and analysis algorithm was verified by comparing with the results derived by the existing analysis programs. In the future, the application of various in-situ gamma spectrometers will be implemented to improve the profiling of the depth distribution of deposited nuclides through dose rate assessment, and the applicability of the completed simulator in actual in-situ gamma spectrometry will be verified.

“Radiation measurement situation virtual reality program” is a three-dimensional modeling program. It is a program that virtually implements the measurement situation by applying visualization techniques such as animation effect charts, and effectively delivers gamma radiation energy spectrum data. This program was developed to respond to various measurement situations by visualizing major analysis objects such as radiation detectors, radioactive waste drums, radioactive building structures, and the ground surface as a 3D model. User-friendliness was secured by supporting various control functions such as distance, size, and angle while checking the three-dimensionally produced detector and analysis target in a virtual space. By using high-resolution photos obtained through 360-degree shooting, a virtual space was implemented to approximate the actual situation, such as the ground surface measurement. In addition, data communication safety was secured so that a large number of users could use it through a local area network in consideration of the actual operating environment.

감마분광분석 시스템 상에서는 226Ra(186.2 keV)과 235U(185.7 keV)가 방출하는 감마선 에너지의 피크 중첩이 발생한다. 226Ra의 직접분석을 위해서는 중첩된 피크로부터 235U의 기여를 제거해주거나 보정상수를 이용하여 실제 226Ra의 방사능 값 으로 보정 해주어야 한다. 235U가 방출하는 다른 감마선 피크를 참조하여 235U의 기여를 제거할 경우 복잡한 수계산이 필요하며, 참조피크에서 기인하는 큰 불확도로 인해 높은 정량한계를 갖는다. 반면에 보정상수를 이용하여 226Ra을 평가할 경우 간단한 계산으로 평가가 가능하며, 간접측정시 요구되는 222Rn의 용기건전성과 방사평형 복구기간이 필요하지 않아 226Ra의 신속 측정시 유용한 방법이다. 따라서 해당 방법을 통해 원료물질 3종과 공정부산물 3종, 총 93여개 시료에 대해서 보정상수로 산출된 226Ra의 방사능 농도와 방사평형 된 214Bi의 방사능 농도의 비교를 통해 유효성을 확인하였다. 대부분 ± 20% 내에서 유효하였지만 인산석고의 경우 약 50%의 오차를 보였다. 이는 보정상수를 유도하기 위한 가정 중 238U과 226Ra의 방사평형 관계가 달라진 것으로 판단된다. 특이성을 반영한 보정상수를 적용하여 226Ra의 방사능 농도에 대한 유효성을 평가한 결 과 약 ±10%로 좀 더 정밀한 결과를 얻을 수 있었다. 본 연구에서 산출된 보정상수를 통한 226Ra의 방사능 농도 평가 방법은 복잡한 수계산이 필요하지 않고 용기선택으로부터 자유로우며 방사평형 복구를 위한 기간이 필요하지 않아 원료물질 및 공정부산물의 226Ra의 신속한 농도 분포 평가시 유효한 방법이다.

HPGe 검출기를 이용하여 밀도가 다양한 환경시료에 대한 정밀 분석시 정확한 분석을 위해서는 밀도보정인자가 필요하다. 밀도에 대한 보정인자를 구하기 위해서 본 연구에서는 몬테카를로 코드인 MCNPX 코드를 사용하여 크리스털의 높이, 지름 및 코어의 크기와 같은 특성이 다른 세 대의 p-type HPGe 검출기를 모사하고 밀도 1 g/cm3의 교정용 표준시료를 이용하여 모 델링을 검증하였다. 검증을 통하여 모델링을 확정한 후 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.0, 1.2, 1.5 g/cm3 밀도를 가진 샘플에 대한 효율을 시 뮬레이션하고 밀도보정인자를 도출하였다. 도출된 각 검출기에 대한 밀도보정인자를 비교하였을 때 전 에너지 범위에서 그 차이가 거의 없음을 확인하였으며 이는 검출기의 크리스털과 같은 주요 특성에 대해 밀도보정인자가 독립적임을 의미한다.

원자로의 해체 과정에서 발생되는 방사성 폐기물 내 존재하는 55Fe, 63Ni은 폐기물의 처리방법을 결정하는 데 있어 기초적인 지표로 활용되는 중요한 핵종이다. 하지만 두 핵종은 낮은 방사선량으로 인해 다른 핵종들과의 분리가 필수적이며 또한 시 료 매질에서 완전히 추출할 수 있는 전처리가 선행되어야 한다. 따라서 본 연구는 다양한 매질의 원자로 해체 폐기물에 대한 전처리방법의 적용성을 평가하기 위해 NIST SRM 5종 (1646a, 1944, 8704, 2709a, 1633c)에 대하여 왕수, 불산, 과염소산을 각각 이용하는 습식산화법과 alkali-fusion 전처리법에 따른 Iron와 Nickel의 회수율을 비교하였다. 실험 결과 alkali-fusion 방법은 다양한 매질의 인증표준물질에 대해 Iron 95.3~98.3%, Nickle 86.6~88.1%의 분석 정확도와 2% 이하의 정밀도를 나타냄으로서 해체폐기물 중 55Fe, 63Ni 분석에 가장 최적화된 전처리법으로 판단된다.