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Title: Apparatus having reduced background for measuring radiation activity in aerosol particles

Patent ·
OSTI ID:868381
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [2]
  1. Santa Fe, NM
  2. College Station, TX
  3. Bryan, TX
+ Show Author Affiliations

Apparatus having reduced background for measuring radiation activity in aerosol particles. A continuous air monitoring sampler is described for use in detecting the presence of alpha-emitting aerosol particles. An inlet fractionating screen has been demonstrated to remove about 95% of freshly formed radon progeny from the aerosol sample, and approximately 33% of partially aged progeny. Addition of an electrical condenser and a modified dichotomous virtual impactor are expected to produce considerable improvement in these numbers, the goal being to enrich the transuranic (TRU) fraction of the aerosols. This offers the possibility of improving the signal-to-noise ratio for the detected alpha-particle energy spectrum in the region of interest for detecting TRU materials associated with aerosols, thereby enhancing the performance of background-compensation algorithms for improving the quality of alarm signals intended to warn personnel of potentially harmful quantities of TRU materials in the ambient air.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Number(s):
US 5128539
OSTI ID:
868381
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (7)

An Evaluation of Unattached Radon (and Thoron) Daughter Measurement Techniques journal January 1982
Experimental Measurements of the Diffusion Coefficient of 212Pb journal January 1989
Plutonium Aerosol Size Characteristics journal January 1974
An on-Line Monitor for Alpha-Emitting Aerosols journal January 1978
Continuous Monitor for Prompt Detection of Airborne Plutonium journal January 1966
The ZPR-9 Airborne Plutonium Monitoring System journal January 1976
On Improving the Validity of Wire Screen “Unattached” Fraction Rn Daughter Measurements journal January 1989

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apparatus
reduced
background
measuring
radiation
activity
aerosol
particles
continuous
air
monitoring
sampler
described
detecting
presence
alpha-emitting
inlet
fractionating
screen
demonstrated
remove
95
freshly
formed
radon
progeny
sample
approximately
33
partially
aged
addition
electrical
condenser
modified
dichotomous
virtual
impactor
expected
produce
considerable
improvement
goal
enrich
transuranic
tru
fraction
aerosols
offers
possibility
improving
signal-to-noise
ratio
detected
alpha-particle
energy
spectrum
region
materials
associated
enhancing
performance
background-compensation
algorithms
quality
alarm
signals
intended
warn
personnel
potentially
harmful
quantities
ambient
radon progeny
virtual impactor
alarm signal
particle energy
continuous air
aerosol particle
energy spectrum
signal-to-noise ratio
aerosol particles
ambient air
air monitor
noise ratio
reduced background
measuring radiation
radiation activity
monitoring sample
air monitoring
aerosol sample
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