A new irradiation plant in Italy: Technical features and activities performed

Since 1995, a new Hitesys Co. pilot/industrial irradiation plant has been operating in Aprilia, 50 km south of Rome. The plant, which was jointly designed by ENEA and Hitesys Co., is equipped with a highly flexible automatic materials transport system which is also suitable for continuous process repetition or, when upturned, for double-side material treatment. The main features of the irradiation plant are:

• - the radiation source: EB-machine LINAC type (s band) with maximum electron beam energy of 10 MeV and beam power of 1000 W;

• - the bunker: external type, shielded by ordinary concrete, equipped with a suitable entrance/exit maze in order to allow easy handling and managing of materials as well as to facilitate equipment and machinery maintenance and inspection activities.

An intense program of R&D activities and technological services has already been performed in relation to industrial processes and environmental applications, as well as many other radiation technology applications, including agriculture related processes.