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Nuclear calibrations
Our offer
The Nuclear Calibration Laboratory at the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre disposes of several radioactive sources for the calibration of a wide range of nuclear equipment, from personal dosimeters to survey monitors. The available sources can also be used when very precise dose/dose rate irradiations are needed for research purposes. The laboratory is accredited by the Belgian Accreditation Organisation (Belac) for its gamma and neutron calibration method.
In our laboratory in Ghent (LNK Ghent / LSDG) we perform calibrations of ionisation chambers for radiotherapy and radiology departments of hospitals.
Our equipment
For the calibration of neutron monitors and devices sensitive to gamma, X- or beta rays, our laboratory has:
- 3 252Cf sources
- 6 60Co and 5 137Cs sources
- an X-ray equipment (energy range up to 250 keV)
- an EPD irradiator (Siemens) containing 241Am and 36Cl sources
- a Buchler standard with e.g. 90Sr/90Y sources
All sources are traceable to primary standards.
- For gamma and X-ray sources the traceability is assured by means of three primary calibrated ionisation chambers
- For the EPD's a primary calibrated 'golden' EPD is used
- For neutron sources, a primary calibrated Studsvik 2202D monitor is used as a transfer standard
Calibrations are preferably performed when an appointment is made well in advance. This way, all equipment needs to be at our disposal for maximum 1 week.
The activities of the laboraty for nuclear calibrations are related to the irradiation services.
Contacts
Head of laboratory: Lebacq Anne Laure
Operators: Marlein Bart, Melis Ludo
Head of Expert Group: Vanhavere Filip
Detailed information
Calibration of Siemens EPD
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Type MK1
| Quality | Range (2004-11-27) | Accuracy (2 sigma) |
| Personal dose equivalent Hp(10), 241Am | 30 μSv to 1009 μSv | 6.4 % |
| Personal dose equivalent Hp(0,07), 36Ci | 59 μSv to 1.59 mSv | 21 % |
Type MK2.2
| Quality | Range (2004-11-27) | Accuracy (2 sigma) |
| Personal dose equivalent Hp(10), 241Am | 29 μSv to 969 μSv | 6.4 % |
| Personal dose equivalent Hp(0,07), 36Ci | 56 μSv to 1.87 mSv | 21 % |
Calibration using 252Cf neutron sources
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Method: calibration using 252Cf neutron sources |
| Quality | Range (2007-12-19) | Accuracy (2 sigma) |
| Neutron fluence rate | Up to 6.76E+03 n/cm2s | 7.7 % |
| H*(10) (ICRP 74) | Up to 9.37 mSv/h | 8.0 % |
| Hp(10) (ICRP 74) | Up to 9.73 mSv/h | 7.8 % |
Calibration using 60Co or 137Cs gamma sources - horizontal beam
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Method: calibration using 60Co (4 sources) and 137Cs (4 sources) in the horizontal beam installation
Device: all types of gamma monitors, dosimeters, detectors
Validation report: MT.RDC.1013
Standard: calibration in accordance with ISO 4037-1, 4037-2 and 4037-3
The calibration method is certified by the Belgian Calibration Organisation (Belac).
60Co
| Quality | Range (2008-01-01) | Accuracy (2 sigma) |
| Air Kerma Ka rate | Up to 3.18 mGy/h | 4.7 % |
| H*(10) | Up to 3.68 mSv/h | 6.2 % |
| Hp(10) | Up to 3.65 mSv/h | 6.2 % |
137Cs
| Quality | Range (2008-01-01) | Accuracy (2 sigma) |
| Air Kerma Ka rate | 3.8 µGy/h – 18 mGy/h | 4.3 % |
| H*(10) | 4.56 µSv/h – 21.6 mSv/h | 5.9 % |
| Hp(10) | 4.60 µSv/h – 21.78 mSv/h | 5.9 % |
Calibration using 60Co - vertical beam
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Method: calibration using the 60Co source in the vertical beam installation |
| Quality | Range (2008-01-01) | Accuracy (2 sigma) |
| Air Kerma Ka | Up to 2.38 Gy/h | 4.2 % |
| H*(10) | Up to 2.76 Sv/h | 5.8 % |
| Hp(10) |
| 5.8 % |
Calibration using 60Co or 137Cs gamma sources - panoramic beam
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Method: calibration using 60Co and 137Cs in the panoramic beam installation |
60Co
| Quality | Range (2008-01-01) | Accuracy (2 sigma) |
| Air Kerma Ka rate | Up to 71.9 mGy/h | 4.2 % |
| H*(10) | Up to 83.4 µSv/h | 5.8 % |
| Hp(10) | Up to 82.7 µSv/h | 5.8 % |
137Cs
| Quality | Range (2008-01-01) | Accuracy (2 sigma) |
| Air Kerma Ka rate | Up to 412 mGy/h | 4.3 % |
| H*(10) | Up to 494.4 mSv/h | 5.9 % |
| Hp(10) | Up to 498.5 mSv/h | 5.9 % |
Calibration using X-rays from 8 keV to 250 keV
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Method: calibration using X-rays, 16 keV - 250 keV |
Irradiations using the above-mentioned sources for fundamental scientific research purposes
- Reference irradiations are performed for the Dosimetry service
- RX is used to irradiate cells and animals for the Biology group, which performs research on radiation effects on the DNA level
- Several accurate dose/dose rate irradiations are being performed to assist research on optical fibres (BR3 group)
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