Radball receives recognition

Steve Stanley has won the national IChemE Young Engineer of the Year award for his plasma device designed to find and measure radiation for the nuclear industry.

The device, known as the Radball, is a small dome made up of a plasma ball that sits in a lead outer sheath. The Radball allows radiation to penetrate small holes in the outer layer, while the plasma records the intensity, angle and type of radiation produced.

This could prove effective for cleaning up areas that have been used for radioactive purposes and takes away the need for complex and expensive equipment that is currently in use.

Stanley, who works for the National Nuclear Laboratory, said: ‘It’s very simple really and for that reason it is being called the Cat’s Eyes of the nuclear industry. I attended a conference where the medical industry was using similar materials and I thought we could use it and apply it to good effect.’