Sensitivities of five alpha continuous air monitors for detection of airborne {sup 239}Pu

Technical Report · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10170582· OSTI ID:10170582

McIsaac, C V; Amaro, C R

Results of measurements of the sensitivities of five alpha continuous air monitors (CAMs) for detection of airborne {sup 239}Pu are presented. Four commercially available alpha CAMs (Kurz model 8311, Merlin Gerin Edgar, RADeCO model 452, and Victoreen model 758) and a prototype alpha CAM currently in use at Argonne National Laboratory- West (ANL-W) were tested sampling natural ambient air and laboratory-generated atmospheres laden with either blank dust or dust containing nCi/g concentrations of {sup 239}Pu. Cumulative alpha spectra were stored at 30 or 60 minute intervals during each sampling and were subsequently analyzed using three different commonly used alpha spectrum analysis algorithms. The effect of airborne dust concentration and sample filter porosity on detector resolution and sensitivity for airborne {sup 239}Pu are described.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 10170582
• Report Number(s): EGG-WTD--10314; ON: DE92019688
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

054000
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
440103
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AIR SAMPLERS
ALPHA PARTICLES
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
DUSTS
HEALTH AND SAFETY
MONITORING
NUCLEAR SPECTROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTATION
PLUTONIUM 239
REMEDIAL ACTION
SENSITIVITY
SOILS
WASTE RETRIEVAL