| Abstract: | A variety of applications of radiotracers are in vogue in industries with significant economic advantage. Some of the applications in steel, petroleum and maritime industries provide interesting case studies. Different approaches are possible for arriving at the cost to benefit ratio. These include: (1) direct cost comparison with alternative technique, (2) savings due to increased production and reduction in interruption of process, (3) savings due to avoidance of infructuous expenditure. The case studies quoted based on experience in India include: (1) the monitoring of wear condition of refractory lining in blast furnaces. (2) location of leakages in a 140 km long underground crude petroleum pipeline, (3) study of sediment movement in sea bed for selecting the dumping ground for dredged spoils, in connection with harbour maintenance and expansion operations. Cost to benefit ratio is worked out in each case. The ratios range from 1:10 to 1:4500 depending on application and method of calculation of cost benefit ratio. |
