Calibration and operation of continuous air monitors for alpha-emitting radionuclides
Spectrometer-based continuous air monitors have improved our capabilities for detecting aerosols of alpha-emitting radionuclides. This paper describes basic requirements and statistical limitations in the sensitivity of alpha continuous air monitors, and presents a technical basis for selecting the energy window for detection of uranium and plutonium aerosols, correcting for interference from airborne dust, selecting filters with low pressure drop and good front surface collection characteristics, and properly using electroplated calibration sources. Sensitivity limits are described for detecting uranium or plutonium aerosols in the presence of increased concentrations of naturally occurring, alpha-emitting radon progeny radionuclides. Decreasing the lower energy boundary of the detection window from 4.3 MeV to 2.7 MeV improves by a factor of three the detection of plutonium in the presence of dust, while causing minimal additional interference from ambient radon progeny. Selection of the Millipore Fluoropore teflon membrane filter reduces both pressure drop and interference from ambient radon progeny by up to a factor of two. Field collection of ambient radon progeny can be used to verify the proper energy of alpha emissions from electroplated calibration sources. In the absence of energy verification, errors in instrument calibration may result from solid state diffusion of the electroplated calibration radionuclide into the substrate plate.
- Research Organization:
- USDOE Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety, and Health, Washington, DC (United States). Office of Health; USDOE Nevada Field Office, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76EV01013
- OSTI ID:
- 45331
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9304128-; ON: DE95004507; TRN: 95:001318-0034
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Department of Energy (DOE) radiation protection conference, Las Vegas, NV (United States), 13-15 Apr 1993; Other Information: PBD: [1993]; Related Information: Is Part Of 1993 Radiation Protection Workshop: Proceedings; PB: 431 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Investigation of techniques to improve continuous air monitors under conditions of high dust loading in environmental setting. 1998 annual progress report
Performance of an alpha air monitor in a dusty environment