3. Objectives
To have an understanding of what Nuclear Gauges
are
To understand the Regulatory Requirements for
licensing nuclear gauges in Nigeria
4. Introduction
A nuclear (or radiation) gauge:-
is a device widely used in industry, mostly for
process control and product quality control;
comprises a shielded radiation source (radioactive or
x-ray) and a radiation detector arranged so that the
useful radiation beam passes through or otherwise
interacts with the material under investigation to
provide real-time data for continuous analysis and/or
process control.
5. Types of Gauges
Installed/Fixed Gauges: Are most often used in
mines, mills and production facilities as a way of
monitoring a production process and ensuring quality
control, these are mostly for level detection,
thickness measurement and in-stream analysis
Portable Gauges: Are mostly used in industries
such as agriculture, construction, and civil
engineering to measure such things like; the
moisture or compaction in soil and the density of
asphalt in paving mix
6. Functions
Gauges can have a number of primary functions.
e.g.:-
density measurement;
level detection;
thickness measurement;
moisture measurement;
analysis (in-stream analysis).
7. Density Gauges
The detector measures the amount of radiation
passing through the material under examination.
Typically use gigabecquerels of 137Cs.
Detector Material
Flow
Shutter Control
Shielding
Source
Shutter (open)
8. Level Gauges
One or more gauges and detectors commonly used as
“on/off” switches to control the level of material in a bin
or hopper, etc. Large, thick walled vessels
may use 60Co (Gigabecquerels)
High level
detector
Low level
detector
9. Level Gauges Cont.
For small containers e.g. drink cans, low energy
gamma radiation (241Am) or electrically generated x-
rays may be used.
Am-241 level gauge X-ray (kVp) level gauge
10. Legal Basis
Detailed requirements
Practice specific
requirements
or guidance
Principal requirements
Legislation
(Nuclear Safety and
Radiation Protection
Act of 1995)
Regulations
Codes of practice
(being developed)
11. Legal Basis
Section 4-(1) Charged Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory
Authority (NNRA) with the responsibility for nuclear
safety and radiological protection regulation in
Nigeria
Section 4-(1a) charged NNRA with the responsibility
to regulate the possession and application of
radioactive substance and devices emitting ionizing
radiation
12. Legal Basis
Section 6 (d) of the Nuclear Safety and Radiation
Protection Act 19 of 1995 (Act) empowers the NNRA to
issue codes of practice which shall be binding on all
users of radioactive and prescribed substances, and of
sources of ionizing radiation.
13. Legal Basis Cont.
Section 16 (4) (a) of the Act empowers the NNRA to
impose requirements (including requirements
involving structural or other alterations) in respect of
any apparatus, equipment or appliance used thereon
for the purpose of any use of nuclear material,
radioactive substances or a source of ionizing
radiation from which radioactive waste is likely to
arise
15. Administrative Requirements
Completion and submission of NNRA Authorization
Application Form
Provision of a certified copies of Memorandum and
Article of Association, Certificate of Incorporation
with CAC and Particulars of First Directors (Form
C02 & C05)
Payment of applicable authorization fees
22. Radiation Protection Program (RPP)
RPP covers
Organizational structure
Personnel monitoring
Workplace monitoring
Local rules and Supervision
Emergency Procedure
Health Surveillance
23. Training and Personnel
Evidence of having staff that are trained in radiation
protection in the handling of radioactive sources
Evidence of designation of a Radiation Safety officer
(RSO) indicating his job description and authority to
stop unsafe practice.
Copies of CVs, academic and professional
qualifications of classified workers and their
appointment letters
24. Accredited Service
Contractual Service agreement with NNRA
accredited Dosimetry Service Provider (DSP)
Service agreement with an NNRA accredited
Radiation Safety Adviser (RSA) ?
25. NiBIRR 2003
Section 27(3): Nothing in Paragraph (1) of this
regulation shall be construed as requiring a radiation
employer to consult a radiation safety adviser (RSA)
where the only work with ionizing radiation
undertaken by that employer is work specified in the
First Schedule to these regulations
First Schedule: i.e if the apparatus does not under
normal operating conditions cause a dose rate of
more than 1µSv/h at distance of 0.1m from any
accessible surface
26. Radiation Measurement From
Previous Inspection Reports
Independent radiation measurement was performed
The radiation measurement was taken at 1m and in
close contact to and around the transmission
Nucleonic Gauges
27. NIGERIAN BOTLING COMPANY Vol. IV
A. Enugu Production Plant
Area of Interest NNRA (µSv/h)
Gauge 1 Gauge 2 Gauge 3
Entrance to the Plant 0.01 0.01 0.01
Surface of the Nuclear Gauge
(0.1 meter)
0.53 0.53 0.52
One Meter Away 0.03 0.02 0.02
28. NBC Vol. IV
B. Benin Production Plant
Area of Interest NNRA (µSv/h)
Entrance to the Plant 0.00
Surface of the Nuclear Gauge (0.1
meter)
0.2
One Meter Away 0.01
29. NBC Vol. IV
C. Owerri Production Plant
Area of Interest NNRA (µSv/h)
Entrance to the Plant 0.01
Surface of the Nuclear Gauge (0.1
meter)
0.20
One Meter Away 0.03
31. Recommendations
The Authority may wish to:
i. Review the operational areas of RSA in line with
requirements of the NiBIRR
ii. Review and Update the regulatory requirements for
all practices involving the use of ionizing radiation
sources in Nigeria
iii. Bind all the regulatory requirements and make it
available to regulatory officers and if possible
operators
