Industrial Radiography Camera (Irradiation Chamber)
A radiography camera is a device in which the radioactive source is placed inside its shielding. This chamber has shielding made of depleted uranium.
The source and its holder are positioned in the center of the chamber and are secured by safety equipment and a locking system. In this way, the safe transport of the radioactive source is made possible.
By connecting the camera to peripheral equipment such as a crank (remote control) and guide tube, it becomes possible to transfer the source from the irradiation chamber to the tip of the tube and perform irradiation for radiography operations.
Quality Control of Radiography Cameras
To ensure the correct performance of all parts of the radiography camera, these devices must undergo quality control by licensed centers.
Legal Note: Quality control of radiography cameras must be performed by centers approved by the legal unit and holding an operational license in the field of radiography camera quality control, prior to source loading.
Measurement of radiation leakage levels on the surface of the radiography camera
It is necessary for all surfaces of the camera to be dosimetried immediately after loading by the responsible unit, and then daily by radiography centers using a calibrated dosimeter.
The maximum permissible radiation leakage for radiography cameras at full load is 2 millisieverts per hour at the camera surface.
The maximum permissible dose rate on camera surfaces = 2 millisieverts × (source activity ÷ camera capacity).
A Brief Introduction to Radiography Cameras
Delta Sentinel Camera
This camera is among the radiography cameras available on the market that are currently loaded at Pars Isotope-Industrial Company. It weighs 22.7 kilograms and has a loading capacity for Iridium-192 up to a maximum of 150 Curies
Sigma Sentinel Camera
Among other cameras currently, holding an operational license is the Sigma Sentinel Camera, which weighs 24 kilograms and has a loading capacity for Iridium-192 up to a maximum of 130 Curies
Gammamat TSI Camera
The third camera currently licensed for Iridium-192 source loading is the Gammamat TSI camera
This camera has two models and has the capacity to load Iridium-192 sources up to a maximum of 80 or 135 Curies (depending on the camera model)
Currently, Pars Isotope-Industrial Company, given its facilities and technical expertise, is the official authority for the unloading, loading, and quality control of radiography cameras in Iran
Unloading
Since Ir-192 radioactive sources have a half-life of approximately 74 days, after a certain period—as determined by the company possessing the radiography cameras—the source must be replaced and handed over to the waste management unit for disposal
Currently, Pars Isotope-Industrial Company is the sole official liaison with the waste management unit of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization. Following camera unloading, the company delivers the existing source to the waste management unit
Loading
This company is the sole official entity authorized by the Radiation Protection Unit of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization for loading radiography cameras in Iran. Depending on the camera type and required source, this operation is conducted within the company’s hot cells in a completely secure environment
Quality Control
All quality control services and repairs for radiography cameras are performed by Pars Isotope-Industrial Company