Field measurement of trace level Ar-41 concentration in environment using portable spectrometer

Conference · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:126672

Chung, C ^[1]

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1. National Tsing Hua Univ., Hsinchu (Taiwan, Province of China)

Rapid, quantitative determination of individual rare gaseous radio-nuclide is the most difficult task in the field of environmental monitoring of radiation. A method to measure in situ concentration contributed from argon gaseous radionuclide was developed using a portable gamma ray spectrometer. The portable HPGe detector has calibrated with sensitivity of 0.36 nSv/h per cpm of the 1294 gamma, emitted from the radioactive Ar-41. Field measurement are conducted both inside and outside of the containment of a nuclear facility during the reactor full power operation; isodose-rate contour curves are mapped. The in situ measurement can be readily performed at various locations near a nuclear reactor with the 14 kg portable spectrometric unit. With a longer measurement period, the level of Ar-41 can be determined down to 0.1% of the natural background.

• OSTI ID: 126672
• Report Number(s): CONF-950402--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ARGON 41
ENVIRONMENT
GAMMA SPECTROMETERS
HIGH-PURITY GE DETECTORS
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
SENSITIVITY