Radometer-a portable field instrument for the rapid measurement of environmental radon and thoron

A portable battery-operated instrument, the radometer, which permits rapid measurements of environmental levels of radon/thoron is described. The radometer measures radon and thoron by electrostatic collection of charged progeny on a surface barrier detector. Accurate measurements are made in only a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA) 1990-04, Vol.37 (2), p.854-858
Main Author: Negro, V.C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
440102 - Radiation Instrumentation- Radiation Dosemeters
540130 - Environment, Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
AIR POLLUTION MONITORS
CHARGED PARTICLE DETECTION
Current measurement
Delay
DETECTION
Detectors
Electric variables measurement
Electrostatic measurements
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
Filters
FLUIDS
GASES
Humidity
INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Instruments
MASS TRANSFER
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
Moisture
MONITORS
NONMETALS
ON-LINE MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
ON-LINE SYSTEMS
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADON
RARE GASES
Time measurement
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Description
Summary:A portable battery-operated instrument, the radometer, which permits rapid measurements of environmental levels of radon/thoron is described. The radometer measures radon and thoron by electrostatic collection of charged progeny on a surface barrier detector. Accurate measurements are made in only a few minutes because this instrument uses a dual electric field configuration, thus eliminating filters which slow the response time. An onboard computer corrects for the effect of moisture and previous deposition to maintain accuracy and fast response when the instrument encounters high humidity and/or rapid changes in concentration. The instrument's detection volume is 6 L and its efficiency is 25% or .041 cpm/Bq m/sup -3/ (1.5 cpm/pCi L/sup -1/). The instrument has been tested extensively, and its operation is very reliable.< >
ISSN:0018-9499
1558-1578
DOI:10.1109/23.106726