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The comparative economic advantages of using cobalt sources and spent bars from a reactor as high-energy radiation sources
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Report of meeting
some fixed nitrogen has been produced, and finally the kinetics at radiation equilibrium. The conditions for the formation of N203, N204 and 0 3 are considered, together with their effects on the overall process. The Comparative E c o n o m i c Advantages o f u s i n g Cobalt Sources and Spent Bars f r o m a Reactor as High'energy Radiation Sources. J. M. Puio.
Plans for an industrial plant for the production of chemical products by radiation were drawn up, using (1) cobalt sources and (2) spent bars from a reactor. The matter is studied in detail from the economic point of view, thus making it possible to indicate the conditions in which these two sources of energy can be used. The Cost-evaluation o f the Radiationinduced Chlorination o f P o l y m e r s . S.
OKAMURA and K. HAYASm, Osaka Laboratory, Japanese Association of Radiation Research on Polymers. Radiation-induced halogenation is performed here by the y-rays of cobalt-60 for polyvinyl alcohol, polymethyl methacrylate, polymethyl acrylate, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl acetate, polystyrene and polyethylene. The chlorination is recognized to occur very easily to high chlorine contents and also by low dosage in the solution of carbon tetrachloride. Also the costs-evaluation of radiationinduced chlorination of polystyrene and of polyvinyl chloride is done here in the scale of the present industrial conditions in Japan. Costs evaluated are recognized relatively cheaper than that hitherto estimated. T e c h n o l o g y and E c o n o m i c s o f Large Radiation Sources. MICHAEL MICHAELIS,
Arthur D. Little, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts. A major study was recently undertaken for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission to summarize and analyze world technology
relevant to industrial applications of highlevel penetrating radiation. This paper, derived in part from that study, presents a comprehensive and quantitative account of the present status and foreseeable trends in the technology and economics of radiation sources now in use and under development in the United States. Principal attention is focused on radioisotope sources such as cobalt-60 and cesium137, and on electron accelerators such as Van de Graaff, resonant transformer, dynamitron and linear accelerator. Technological features of these sources are discussed in relation to existing and potential industrial process applications. Cost factors are analyzed and quantitative data are presented on capital, installation, operating and maintenance costs of various sources. Estimates are presented for the total cost per kilowatthour of radiation output as a function of type and size of the source. It is recognized that these "radiationproduction cost factors" are only some of the variables in the economic equation of radiation technology. Attention is therefore drawn to some of the following "application factors" which must be taken into account in arriving at sound economic judgements: Unique product properties, and/or process savings. Impro'vements i n processing or product handling made possible by the introduction of the irradiation step. Efficiency of radiation utilization in the particular application. Cost of absorbed radiation relative to other process costs and to the market value of the product. Intangible considerations, if any, associated with the use of radiation in the particular application, which may be expected to increase or decrease the marketability of the product. As far as radiation-production costs are concerned, it is concluded that there are good prospects for achieving costs as low as 10 cents/kWh of radiation output, whereas present-day costs are in the range of one to ten.
Report of meeting
some fixed nitrogen has been produced, and finally the kinetics at radiation equilibrium. The conditions for the formation of N203, N204 and 0 3 are considered, together with their effects on the overall process. The Comparative E c o n o m i c Advantages o f u s i n g Cobalt Sources and Spent Bars f r o m a Reactor as High'energy Radiation Sources. J. M. Puio.
Plans for an industrial plant for the production of chemical products by radiation were drawn up, using (1) cobalt sources and (2) spent bars from a reactor. The matter is studied in detail from the economic point of view, thus making it possible to indicate the conditions in which these two sources of energy can be used. The Cost-evaluation o f the Radiationinduced Chlorination o f P o l y m e r s . S.
OKAMURA and K. HAYASm, Osaka Laboratory, Japanese Association of Radiation Research on Polymers. Radiation-induced halogenation is performed here by the y-rays of cobalt-60 for polyvinyl alcohol, polymethyl methacrylate, polymethyl acrylate, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl acetate, polystyrene and polyethylene. The chlorination is recognized to occur very easily to high chlorine contents and also by low dosage in the solution of carbon tetrachloride. Also the costs-evaluation of radiationinduced chlorination of polystyrene and of polyvinyl chloride is done here in the scale of the present industrial conditions in Japan. Costs evaluated are recognized relatively cheaper than that hitherto estimated. T e c h n o l o g y and E c o n o m i c s o f Large Radiation Sources. MICHAEL MICHAELIS,
Arthur D. Little, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts. A major study was recently undertaken for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission to summarize and analyze world technology
relevant to industrial applications of highlevel penetrating radiation. This paper, derived in part from that study, presents a comprehensive and quantitative account of the present status and foreseeable trends in the technology and economics of radiation sources now in use and under development in the United States. Principal attention is focused on radioisotope sources such as cobalt-60 and cesium137, and on electron accelerators such as Van de Graaff, resonant transformer, dynamitron and linear accelerator. Technological features of these sources are discussed in relation to existing and potential industrial process applications. Cost factors are analyzed and quantitative data are presented on capital, installation, operating and maintenance costs of various sources. Estimates are presented for the total cost per kilowatthour of radiation output as a function of type and size of the source. It is recognized that these "radiationproduction cost factors" are only some of the variables in the economic equation of radiation technology. Attention is therefore drawn to some of the following "application factors" which must be taken into account in arriving at sound economic judgements: Unique product properties, and/or process savings. Impro'vements i n processing or product handling made possible by the introduction of the irradiation step. Efficiency of radiation utilization in the particular application. Cost of absorbed radiation relative to other process costs and to the market value of the product. Intangible considerations, if any, associated with the use of radiation in the particular application, which may be expected to increase or decrease the marketability of the product. As far as radiation-production costs are concerned, it is concluded that there are good prospects for achieving costs as low as 10 cents/kWh of radiation output, whereas present-day costs are in the range of one to ten.