A problem of creating effective machines with radiation protection of an operator and its possible scientific and practical solutions

Issues related to the radiation accident remedial actions and working with radioactive materials are becoming increasingly important. The paper shows the main features and disadvantages of the previously applied approaches to solving the problem of creating effective machines for radioactive contaminated areas, as well as a number of basic scientific and practical proposals for possible solutions to this problem, including early-stage design decisions. Machines created for operation on contaminated sites are usually based on existing ones, which previously were considered generally as platforms for installing cabins with the highest possible level of radiation protection. This does not guarantee their maximum application efficiency. Improving the efficiency of such machines, based on the development of any of its parameters (level of radiation protection, technical performance, traction, power, speed, load capacity, etc.), is irrational. Previously used methods of calculation and design of machines with protection from gamma radiation are weakly interdependent and loosely interrelated and are not combined into the “anti-radiation protection - machine (performance and cost) - man” integrated system. We propose to consider radiation protection as a subsystem of a machine as a whole. This significantly changes the requirements for a machine, its performance and design and makes some scientific results and general theoretical recommendations not applicable to such machines. Moreover, the higher the level and weight of radiation protection is, the greater is its impact on the base chassis and its characteristics. The complex approach presented in the paper allows for comprehensive study of the problem of machine development for contaminated area work and substantiation of reasonable parameters of radiation protection for an operator considering the relationship of protection with other technical parameters of machines. The results of the research make it possible to calculate the values of the main parameters of the machines for working in radioactive contaminated area at the stage of pre-design and design, to improve the efficiency of the machine, and to protect the operator from radiation. This reduces the time and material costs of conducting research and development works to create such machines. The processes of launching into manufacture, development of new machines, and improvement of existing ones with anti-radiation protection are accelerated.