EB technology vis-a-vis Gamma radiation for Irradiation Sterilization

1. EB technology vis-a-vis Gamma radiation for Irradiation Sterilization PENG Wei M.Sc. of Nuclear Technology Engineering, USTC B.Sc. Of Nuclear Engineering and Technology, Soochow University Registered Nuclear Safety Engineer, MEP（NNSA） Senior Engineer in Radiation Technology and Engineering, CAS Vice President of Vanform Corporation Member of the Technique WG of iiA Secretary of the Specialist Consulting Committee of CIRA OC member and session chairperson of IMRP2013

2. Introduction of Irradiation Technologies

3. Irradiation facilities • Radiation sources • Product conveyor system • Radiation shielding and safety interlock system • Process control system • Auxiliary system

4. Radiation source FOSSIL HYDRO NUCLEAR SOLAR WIND Gamma Electron Beam(EB) X-ray

5. The main difference • Radiation Energy • Gamma(Co-60):1.25MeV gamma • EB: 5-10 MeV electron • X-ray: 5MeV EB conversion to X-ray, energy similar or a little better than Co-60 • Radiation directions • Gamma: 4π • EB and X-ray: one direction • Consumption: • Gamma: Co-60, 12.5% per year • EB and X-ray: Electric power

6. Irradiation Facilities • Gamma Irradiator: • Co-60 • More than 130 sets in Operation in China with total design capacity more than 180MCi with current load activity about 65MCi • Electron Accelerator • Electron beam • X-ray • More than 40 Electron accelerators in Operation in China for sterilization

7. Gamma Irradiator

8. EB accelerator-Linac

9. X-Ray 9

10. EB and X-ray suppliers in China • Gamma: • Irradiator : 3 • Co-60 source: 1 • EB: • 10MeV,15-20kW-Linac:>5 • 10MeV, 40kW-Linac: 1 • 10MeV, 50-100kW-Rhodotron: 0 • X-ray • 5 MeV, 120-150kW-Dynamitron: 3 • 7.5 MeV, 7.5kW-Linac: 1

11. The advantages and drawbacks of EB and X-ray

12. Advantages • No radiation when power off • No nuclear security problem • No transportation of Radioactivity material • No Radioactivity waste • Simple regulation requirement

13. Drawbacks • Electron Beam: • Less penetration • Complicate machine and key parts import • Difficult operation and maintenance • Need high level and trained personnel • Energy restrict • Less research on the irradiation processing • X-ray • Energy restrict • Low conversion rate • Less operating experience

14. The economic analysis of EB and X-ray

15. The Investment Recovery Analysis y m3/y

16. Analysis Result • The Gamma is most economical than EB and X-ray when the throughput is less than14000m3/y, the Co-60 activity to meet this throughput is around 500-600 kCi • The EB-Linac is most economical when the throughput is between 14000m3/y and 80000m3/y • The EB-Rhodotron is most economical when the throughput is higher than 80000m3/y • X-ray is not economical now

17. Summary in Economy • As most gamma irradiator is less than 600kCi in China, so the gamma is still competitive now • But following the industrial development and the increase of cost of Co-60, and also the decrease of the cost of electricity and the EB machine, the EB especially for Linac will be more and more competitive • The Rhodotron is good for the huge quantity medical treatment • The X-ray is not competitive at this moment

18. The discuss and outlook

19. Gamma • Economically competitive in China now • The source loading of most irradiator less than 600kCi • Less initial investment • A single gamma irradiator without the Co-60 is less than EB • The process capacity can be increase easily by source replenishment • Other advantages • operating experience • customer acceptance • wide product • The full replacement of Co-60 in a near future is very difficult from economical and market side , but the reduction of Co-60 is very possible by EB and X-ray

20. Gamma + EB-Linac • Best Combination for irradiation sterilization in China now • 500 kCi Co-60 + 20 kW 10MeV EB-Linac • Cover almost all products • Success of few demonstration projects in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Changzhou, Wuxi • A good way to reduce the use of Co-60 • Most gamma owners are interested to build the EB

21. EB-Linac+EB-Linac • 20 kW 10MeV EB-Linac+ 20 kW 10MeV EB-Linac is economic combination • A new player of irradiation sterilization can start at one Linac machine, and then followed by a second one in next few years as the Linac consumption parts problem • Now two EB building construct at same time, and purchaser the EB machine by two steps • Some operating experience in Jinan, Shanghai…. • Economically competitive with Gamma but can not cover all products, it is difficult to full replacement of gamma

22. EB-Linac+X-ray • 20 kW 10MeV EB-Linac+150 kW 5 MeV X-ray • One Rhodotron with 10MeV EB and 5 MeV X-ray • Less operating experience • The X-ray can fully replace the gamma but no economically competitive now • Need more research on the conversion target to get high efficiency • Need to modify the regulations of energy limit for X-ray conversion from 5 MeV to 7 MeV • But for the security problem and the cost of Gamma source increased, the X-ray will be possible to replace the gamma in future

23. Summary • The different technologies have different advantages and also drawbacks • From market and economical aspect, the different technologies have relative competitive for different products and market volume • EB and X-ray are good alternatives to gamma • Survivalofthefittest • The policy and regulations will guide and speed up the alternatives in our industry

24. Introduction of Vanform • Shandong Vanform High Energy Physics Technology Corporation, established in 2007 • National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Electron Accelerator by Chinese centre government • Four demonstration irradiation centers total equipped 8 sets Linacs with 10MeV/20kW • Full industry chain for the electron beam radiation processing • List in NEEQ stock market: 834428

25. Thanks for your attention！ • 联系方式：pengwei@vanform.com • www.vanform.com