RADIATION MANAGEMENT & ALARA | BORESCOPES & SAFETY
Core borescope abilities laid bare
For the personnel conducting borescope inspections on nuclear facilities, managing time and distance is crucial to maintaining a safe working
environment and minimising exposure to radiation. By increasing inspection efficiency, operator safety in high-radiation environments can be improved.
By Ryan Sterling, RVI Product Manager, Evident
BORESCOPE INSPECTIONS ARE VITAL TO help ensure the safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance of nuclear power plants. These inspections are key to preventive maintenance, root cause analysis, and maintaining operational efficiency. However, for those carrying out boroscope inspections there is the potential for radiation exposure. Minimizing any exposure for inspectors in nuclear plants is critical to protect their health, ensure compliance with regulations, and facilitate safe and effective inspections and maintenance activities. For example, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC),
the key US nuclear regulatory body, imposes stringent guidelines to monitor and regulate nuclear facilities. They ensure compliance with safety protocols to minimise potential risks associated with nuclear materials and radiation. Workplace radiation exposure is meticulously
regulated in accordance with these safety standards, and the annual effective dose limit is established at 5 rem (0.05 sievert (Sv)). To provide context, the average person typically
encounters less than 0.003 Sv of naturally occurring radiation annually. Workers in nuclear plants generally experience exposure levels of less than 0.01 Sv per year, a threshold deemed reasonably safe by prevailing standards. Adhering to these guidelines ensures a controlled and secure environment for individuals operating in nuclear facilities.
Another fundamental approach to radiation safety is the ALARA principle, which stands for “as low as reasonably achievable.” It emphasises the need to minimise radiation exposure to the lowest achievable levels without compromising the efficiency of plant operations.
Steam Water
BWR Filter Boiling Water Reactor
Circulation pump
Control rods
Circulation pump
No. 1/3
2/4 5 6 7
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Major inspection area Area
High pressure steam tube Water pipe
Steam generator Steam turbine Generator Condensor
Vessel
Control rods
PWR Pressurized Water Reactor
Circulation pump
Filter Pump Pump Above, figure 1: Illustration of the areas to inspect inside a boiling water reactor (BWR) and a pressurised water reactor (PWR) 28 | July 2025 |
www.neimagazine.com Steam Water Turbine Generator Steam generator Condensor Steam Transmission line
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