EXAMINATION OF THE FEASIBILITY FOR DEMONSTRATION AND USE OF RADIOLUMINESCENT LIGHTS FOR ALASKAN REMOTE RUNWAY LIGHTING

In March 1983, the State of Alaska, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (Alaska DOT&PF) authorized and funded a study by the Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) to examine the feasibility for demonstration and use of radioluminescent lights (RL lights) for remote Alaskan runway lighting applications. Radioluminescent lights have been under development by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Defense (DOD) for a variety of purposes. Previously, the lights have used the beta energy to produce light for emergency and instrument lighting. Recent developments using the isotopes tritium and krypton-85 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and advanced phosphor technology have produced lights suitable for applications where more intense light is required, such as runway marking. This report examines the feasibility of such applications for rural Alaskan airports. Preliminary cost estimates suggest that significant cost advantages could be possible for applications in rural Alaska compared to conventional lighting systems. Since the RL lights contain radioactive materials, there is some potential risk that their use will result in exposure to radiation doses to humans who come into contact with them. Under worst-case accident scenarios, however, it is possible that a significant dose greater than 5.0 rem could be received by a limited number of people. Generally speaking, the radiological hazard, however, is expected to be minimal for this application. Development of the RL airfield lighting system is expected to continue in the 1983-84 period with some permanent installations possible in late 1984. However, implementation of such systems are not expected to be possible on a routine basis prior to 1985. (Author)

• Record URL:
  • http://www.dot.state.ak.us/stwddes/research/assets/pdf/ak_rd_84_16.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

  Division of Planning and Programming, 2301 Peger Road
  Fairbanks, AK  United States  99701

  Batelle Memorial Institute/Pacific Northwest Labs

  Battelle Boulevard, P.O. Box 999
  Richland, WA  United States  99352

  Department of Energy

  1000 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20585
• Authors:
  • Jensen, G
  • Perigo, L
  • Leonard, L
  • Hegdal, L
• Publication Date: 1984-1

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: v.p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accessibility; Airport runways; Costs; Feasibility analysis; Hazards; Lighting; Radioactivity
• Uncontrolled Terms: Remote areas
• Old TRIS Terms: Radioluminescent lights
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00391004
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: AK-RD-84-16, Final Report
• Contract Numbers: DE-AC06-76 RL0 1830
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jan 30 2003 12:00AM