Development of technology for NORM visualization

Abstract

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) released the ASTROCAM 7000HS, a radioactive substance visualization camera, in March 2013, following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The ASTROCAM 7000HS incorporates the technologies for the gamma-ray detector used for the ASTRO-H satellite, which we have been developing under entrustment from and together with scientists at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the design was modified for use on land to commercialize the product. We performed on-site tests in June 2013 in the area where living is restricted in Fukushima Prefecture and succeeded in the visualization of hot spots polluted by cesium mainly.

At oil and gas production facilities, there are cases where high concentration of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) appear. These NORMs cause a health risk to workers and environmental affect. MHI started the R&D to apply this camera for NORM visualization with Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC). The outline of the ASTROCAM 7000HS, the measurement principle and the test results are reported below.