The performance of charcoal-based radon detection under time-varying radon conditions: Experimental and theoretical results

Conference · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:5922610

Sextro, R. G.; Lee, D. D.

Radon adsorption by charcoal is a widely used technique for measuring indoor radon concentration, particularly when short-term results are desired. There are several different devices available, ranging from permeable envelopes filled with charcoal and open-face charcoal-filled canisters to devices incorporating diffusion limiting features to reduce losses of radon due to desorption. However, the integration characteristics of these samplers are not well understood, particularly under conditions of highly varying radon concentrations. A model for predicting the response of various types of charcoal based detectors to time-variant radon concentrations has been developed; the model predictions compare well with results from chamber experiments. Both the experimental and theoretical results have also been compared with integrated continuous-sampling measurements. The implications of these comparisons for use of charcoal for screening measurements is discussed. 5 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5922610
• Report Number(s): LBL-27363; CONF-8810134-6; ON: DE89015231
• Resource Relation: Conference: Symposium on radon and radon reduction technology, Denver, CO, USA, 17-21 Oct 1988; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
EVALUATION
RADON 222
DETECTION
ADSORPTION
CHARCOAL
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
QUANTITY RATIO
ADSORBENTS
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
RADON ISOTOPES
SORPTION
320107* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Building Systems- (1987-)