Medium and high-energy electron beam radiation processing equipment for commercial applications

Electron beam processing of materials was introduced during the 1950s, and this technology has been continually evolving since then. A variety of industrial electron accelerators can now provide electron energies from 0.3 MeV to more than 10 MeV with average beam power capabilities up to 300 kW. The most important types are described briefly in this paper. Several types of material handling systems are used to present products to the electron beam. The objectives are to utilize the beam power efficiently and to obtain acceptable dose uniformity. The main methods for material handling are described. Simplified equations are provided for relating the electron energy and beam power ratings to the material thickness, area throughput and mass throughput rates. The basic requirements for personnel safety are also reviewed.