Understanding Radiation and Radiological Health: A Comprehensive Guide

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around various aspects of radiation safety, radiological health, and the application of Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) simulations in nuclear science. Participants share resources, documents, and personal inquiries related to radiation safety manuals, nuclear reactor chemistry, and specific technical challenges in using MCNP for simulations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant shares a radiation safety manual from New Mexico State University, highlighting its compliance with state regulations and its utility for understanding radiation basics.
  • Another participant references a book on chemistry topics in light water reactors (LWRs), noting that while some information is dated, it still provides useful insights into reactor chemistry and radiation production.
  • Multiple posts provide links to resources and historical documents related to MCNP, indicating its evolution and various applications in nuclear physics and medical physics.
  • A participant expresses a need for guidance on modifying temperature parameters in MCNP benchmarks, specifically regarding the introduction of Doppler broadening related to temperature changes.
  • Further inquiries are made about coupling CAD tools with MCNP and Geant4, indicating interest in integrating different simulation tools for enhanced modeling capabilities.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion includes multiple viewpoints and resources, but no consensus is reached on specific technical challenges or methodologies related to MCNP. Participants express varying levels of familiarity with the topics, leading to an exploratory nature without definitive resolutions.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention the need for updated practices in reactor chemistry and the evolution of MCNP, indicating that certain assumptions or practices may be outdated. There are also unresolved technical details regarding the implementation of temperature changes in MCNP simulations.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of nuclear engineering, health physics, and radiation safety, particularly those interested in simulation techniques and reactor chemistry.

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" 'New Mexico State University Radiation Safety Manual', is a program prepared by Katrina D. Doolittle with assistance from Trina F. Witter in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Broad Scope Type AB Radioactive Materials License issued to New Mexico State University.

This document is a compilation of much policy original to the 1981 NMSU Radiation Safety Manual, practice and procedures developed by Katrina Doolittle, Radiation Safety Officer and radiation training information kindly supplied by Keith Carsten, Texas A & M Environmental Health and Safety Department. This manual complies with the provisions of 20 NMAC 3.1, State of New Mexico Radiation Protection Regulations as written by the Hazardous and Radioactive Bureau, Radiation Licensing and Registration Section of the New Mexico Environment Department."

http://www.nmsu.edu/~safety/programs/rad_safety/radman/radman00_toc.htm


This may be of use to those interested in some basics of radiation and radiactivity.

Key Words: Radiation Safety, Health Physics, Radiological Health
 
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This book provides some useful information on various chemistry topics in LWRs.

It is a bit dated, so some of the numbers pertaining to the operating conditions of BWRs and PWRs are a bit off, although close.

http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=9263&page=1

The appendices are particularly useful, as are the figures.

Contents:

1. Brief Description of Nuclear Power Reactor Systems and Primary Coolant Chemistry (1-10)

2. Radioactivity Productions in Nuclear Reactors (11-30)

3. Fission Products (31-68)

4. Activated Corrosion Products (69-112)

5. Water and Impurity Activation Products (113-124)

6. Radiation Chemistry in Reactor Coolant (125-142)

7. Assay of Radiactive Waste (143-158)

8. Special Radiochemical Studies (159-188)

A. Nuclear Data (189-216)

B. Sampling Practices and Sample Preparation for Radiochemical Analyses (217-228)

C. Gamma-Ray Specrometric Analysis (229-244)

D. Counting Geometric Corrections in Gamma-Radiation Measurements (245-250)

E. Selected Radiochemical Procedures (251-277)


The water chemistry practices have changed considerably since 1996. BWRs use Zn-injection with depleted Zn (depleted in Zn-64), and now many use noble metal injection in order to reduce the need for hydrogen injection in the primary system (used to reduce ECP). PWRs use Zn-injection, and higher pH, typically > 7.0, and as close to 7.4 during the latter part of the cycle. Several plants use Li above 3 and up to nearly 6 ppm. Ideally B content is less than 1200 ppm.
 
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Since we get so many posts on MCNP, please see the following:

https://mcnp.lanl.gov/references.shtml

https://mcnp.lanl.gov/pdf_files/la-ur-07-2053.pdf

Some history of MCNP
https://mcnp.lanl.gov/pdf_files/la-ur-13-22934.pdf

Some notes from universities
http://hep.ucsb.edu/people/hnn/cdmsshield/chapter3mcnp.pdf
http://homepages.cae.wisc.edu/~bohm/neep412/lucasMCNPTutorialspring2010.pdf
https://www.mne.k-state.edu/~jks/MCNPprmr.pdf

https://bl831.als.lbl.gov/~mcfuser/publications/MCNP/MCNP_primer.pdf

University thesis on modeling VVER
https://dspace.nwu.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10394/19788/Nyalunga_GP_2016.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Medical Physics
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/4268353.pdf

http://cmpwg.ans.org/mcnp/primer.pdf

https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/b...67/etd-tamu-2003A-2003032614-1.pdf?sequence=1When I first heard about it, the acronym MCNP meant Monte Carlo Neutron Photon, but now it apparently means, Monte Carlo N-Particle. It has evolved considerably. See la-ur-13-22934.pdf above.

Features of MCNP6
https://pdf.sciencedirectassets.com...915000900/H_Grady_Hughes_Monte_Carlo_2015.pdf
 
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Thank you for sharing.
 
Hello.
I hope you are doing well.

I am working on the effect of temperature on sample benchmarks (HEU-MET-FAST-nnn).

I change the temperature of each benchmark code by specifying "tmp" value in cell cards, and changing the "ZAID" in Data cards. But I think there still is something to change or to worry about in the code if I want for example to change the default temperature of the code to "600K".

Please if someone has an idea about this. I will be thankful.

Best regards.
 
  • #10

Monte Carlo N-Particle Simulations for Nuclear Detection and Safeguards​

An Examples-Based Guide for Students and Practitioners

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-04129-7

John S. Hendricks (MCNP developer), Martyn T. Swinhoe, Andrea Favalli (MCNP users/practitioners)
  • Presents the first book treatment of Monte Carlo N-Particle simulations for special nuclear materials measurements
  • Provides step-by-step examples based on real-world problems
  • Imparts the authors’ insights based on decades of experience in Monte Carlo code design and use
  • This book is open access, which means that you have free and unlimited access
 
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