Enhancing Safety in Nuclear Facility Work Environments through the Rapid and Highly Accurate Identification of Radioactive Materials

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Mitsubishi Electric), Mitsubishi Electric Plant Engineering Corporation (MPEC), Nagoya University, Tokai National Higher Education and Research System (Nagoya University), and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) announced today that the “Radioactive Airborne Particulate Monitor,” jointly developed by the four organizations, has received a 2026 R&D 100 Award, presented by R&D World in recognition of innovative technological developments.

The Radioactive Airborne Particulate Monitor can rapidly and accurately identify and measure radioactive materials in the air at nuclear facilities and other locations, thereby improving workplace safety. At facilities that handle radioactive materials, such as nuclear power plants, radioactive particulates (aerosols) may become airborne in the event of an accidental release of radioactive substances. To prevent workers from suffering serious internal radiation exposure, monitoring systems capable of strictly controlling the concentrations of artificial radioactive materials, including nuclear fuel materials, are required.

With conventional monitors, it has been difficult to accurately distinguish the proportion of alpha particles emitted by naturally occurring radioactive materials compared to those emitted by artificial nuclear fuel materials. Identifying nuclear fuel materials requires precise analysis at specialized facilities. The Radioactive Airborne Particulate Monitor implements an unfolding technique that estimates the energy distribution of alpha particles and identifies the type of radioactive material without precise analysis.

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