Radiological Applications and Technology Division (RATD) is responsible for carrying out R&D related to radiological and environmental safety of fast breeder reactor technology, environmental radioactivity monitoring and assessment within the site and survey and archival of terrestrial and marine biodiversity around the facility. Exploring application of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation to societal benefits is another vital area of research and RATD provides irradiation services for R&D in agricultural and medical fields for respective agencies. Further, RATD is providing excellent calibration services to all Gamma and Neutron monitors used by DAE units, DRDO, NDRF and other non-governmental industries using the accredited Regional Calibration Laboratory; engaged in environment radioactivity measurements in various matrices at its Nuclear counting Facility and testing of HEPA and Iodine filters of radioactive facilities in Kalpakkam units, NFC etc. All these service facilities are NABL accredited.
In order to create awareness among various sections of the public about the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, radiation safety and achievements of DAE in science and technology, a well planned public awareness program has been operational for disseminating the knowledge and advancements in the three stages of Indian nuclear energy with exhibition charts and demonstration models.
Achievements
Group Achievements Award 2016: SFR safety studies to evaluate chemical toxicity of sodium combustion aerosol released to the environment.
Young Scientist Award 2017: Dr. Amit Kumar has been conferred the award for his contribution to “aerosol science and technology for safety and impact assessment of sodium-cooled fast reactor”.
Expertise
Infrastructure/Facilities
Aerosol Test Facility comprising of 1 m3 chamber, aerosol generation system viz. sodium combustion cell, 40kW Thermal Plasma Torch and Aerosol diagnostic systems for number, mass and charge-size distribution measurements ranging from 10nm to 100 µm in both on-line and off-line detection.
Microbiology and molecular biology laboratory for assessment of environmental and experimental samples (RT-PCR, Multimode microplate reader).
Microscopy laboratory for identification of plankton and benthos.
Analytical facilities for physicochemical and biological properties of water and sediment (Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, TOC Analyser, Nutrient Autoanalyser).
Drosophila culture facility for radiation effect study.
State of art Regional Calibration Facility of Gamma Radiation monitoring
Nuclear Counting Laboratory for radioactivity measurements in various matrices of environmental sample
HEPA Filter Test Rig.
Computational tools
ANSYS Fluent and OpenFOAM for modelling multiphase and multi physics systems
HAARM Code for aerosol dynamics
Drop code for stability analysis of liquid jets
code for core bubble expansion during CDA
1.Regional Calibration Laboratory is an NABL accredited uunique facility for the calibration of gammas and neutron survey instruments.
It has four sources of Cs-137 [1213 Ci, 30 Ci, 500 mCi and 10 mCi], Co-60 – 1 Ci, and Am-241 – 1 Ci. It is
fully automated with software controlled source selection and Linear distancing system.
inbuilt safety and security features.
Laser alignment for source-detector
Caters to the needs of DAE, NDRF and other industrial requirements
2. Nuclear Counting Laboratory
This is an NABL accredited counting lab with state of art counting instruments and spectrometers. Laboratory has been successfully functioning for more than 33 years.
It handles all environmental Sample for analysis inside Kalpakkam site. The new additions are the Carbon-14 measurement in air system with standardised Methodology.
The lab routinely participates in Proficiency Test conducted by IAEA.
3. Radiometry facility for shield integrity tests
Gamma Radiometry with 90 Ci Co-60 source is assembled and used successfully for DFRP Concrete & Lead Cells shielding integrity tests. A methodology for spatial location and size of the cracks and voids in shields has also been developed.
4.HEPA Filter Test Lab
An NABL accredited facility, the HFTL provides services to the filter bank testing requirements of glove boxes and stacks of the DAE facilities in the southern region including NFC. It regularly participates in inter lab comparison excercises and strictly follows the quality management protocols of NABL.
5. IR Thermal Imaging facility
The facility with non-ionising IR iradiation is used frequently for Crack detection in leak before break experiments in 550 NB pipe of secondary sodium system of PFBR, Leak detection in reprocessing vessel etc. Further, IR Imaging is developed as Adjunct Diagnostic Tool in Medical Imaging and successfully demonstrated as a rapid screening tool for mamography.
6.Gamma Irradiation Chamber
The GR5000 and other irradiators are frequently used for seed irradiation for mutation research, medical irradiation of cadaver bones etc in addition to in-house requirements.
7. Information Centre at TCPS, RATD, Chennai.
8.Aerosol Test Facility
Aerosol Test Facility comprising of 1 m3 chamber, aerosol generation system viz. sodium combustion cell, 40kW Thermal Plasma Torch and Aerosol diagnostic systems for number, mass and charge-size distribution measurements ranging from 10nm to 100 µm in both on-line and off-line detection.
9.Microbiology lab
Clockwise: AAS, Auto Analyser, Culturing facility and RT-PCR analyser.
