Final report of a co-ordinated research project 1997–2000 (IAEA-TECDOC-1262)
IAEA,Vienna, Austria, 2001 p.104 ISSN 1011–4289.
The Co-ordinated Research Project (CRP) on Radiotracer Technology for Engineering
Unit Operation Studies and Unit Process Optimization was carried out by the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from December 1997 until December 2000. The project
developed and validated procedures and protocols for investigation of major industrial
processes, including fluidized beds, sugar crystallizers, trickle bed reactors, cement rotary
kilns, flotation cells, grinding mills, incinerators, wastewater treatment units and interwell
communications in oil fields.
Over the years, the IAEA has contributed substantial funding and effort to industrial
applications of radiotracer technology. Significant progress has been made, enabling IAEA
Member States to introduce the technology in well defined industrial processing fields and
establish national and private radiotracer groups with the indigenous capacity to sustain and
further develop the technology. There are currently more than 50 radiotracer groups in the
developing Member States of the IAEA applying radiotracers in routine service to end users.
This publication is the output of the above mentioned CRP. It provides the principles and
state of the art of radiotracer methodology and technology as applied to industry and
environment. It is expected to provide wider interest for further development of skills and
confidence prior to carrying out field work. It facilitates transfer of technology from
developed to developing countries and from nuclear research institutions to industrial end
users. The publication could be a suitable guide for radiotracer applications in almost all types
of process investigations. The case studies described in this publication deal with typical
problems in industry and environment common to all countries. It is intended for radiotracer
groups as well as for end engineers and managers from chemical and petrochemical industries,
mineral ore and raw material processing, wastewater treatment plants, and other industrial
sectors.
Contents:
Introduction
Radiotracer Methodology
RTD Validation in Case Studies from Chemical, Petrochemical and Mineral ORE Processing Industries
Flow Measurement
Radiotracer Investigations of Wastewater Treatment Plants
Radiotracers in Petroleum Reservoirs — the Case of Interwell Examination
Trends in Research and Development in Radiotracer
Methodology and Technology
