A comparison of the ruggedized ZnS(Ag)/EPOXY and mylar-based alpha detectors for wastewater streams

Conference · Tue Nov 03 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:10106267

McElhaney, S A ^[1]; Salaymeh, S R; Moore, F S ^[2]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
2. Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)

A low-level alpha radiation sensor has been designed and developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for monitoring process wastewater streams at the Westinghouse Savannah River Site (SRS). This new Ruggedized Contamination Detector (RCD) is intended to replace the fragile, mylar-based scintillators and has improved sensitivity and reliability for detecting alpha contamination. The unique entrance window invented for this sensor has considerably less mass per unit area than conventional Mylar windows currently used in wastewater streams. The thin layer deposited between the radiation detection medium and potentially contaminated wastewater makes it much easier to detect short-range alpha particles. Compared to the conventional Mylar-based detectors, the new design allows for eight times the number of {sup 238}U alphas to penetrate the entrance window and reach the scintillation material and eliminates the need for routine replacement of the Mylar entrance window.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States); Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 10106267
• Report Number(s): CONF-9211116--4; ON: DE93003089
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440100
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540330
ALPHA DETECTION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATION INSTRUMENTATION
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
URANIUM 238
WASTE WATER
ZINC SULFIDES