Field test of electret ion chambers for environmental monitoring

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Health Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199402000-00003· OSTI ID:379204

Fjeld, R A; Kotrappa, P ^[1]; Montague, K J ^[2]

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1. Clemson Univ., SC (United States)
2. Duke Power Company, Charlotte, NC (United States); and others

A field test of electret ion chambers was performed to evaluate their performance in making environmental exposure measurements at nuclear facilities. The objectives of the study were to determine electret ion chamber measurements. Three electret ion chambers were placed at each of 40 monitoring locations in the vicinity of a commercial nuclear power station during four consecutive quarters. The electret ion chamber measurements were compared to thermoluminescent dosimeter measurements made by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Two types of comparisons were made with the high-pressure ion chamber. One used yearly average electret ion chamber measurements and instananeous high-pressure ion chamber measurements at 15 of the monitoring locations. The other involved the simultaneous exposure of five electre ion chambers measurements to thermoluminescent dosimeter measurements was 1.06. The mean ratio of electret ion chamber measurements to instantaneous and simultaneous high-pressure ion chamber measurements were 1.06 and 1.07, respectively. Electret variability, defined here as the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean, was determined for each set of three detectors. The average variability for the 160 sets of quarterly measurements, there were six outliers. Based on the results of this study, electret ion chambers appear to yield accurate measurements of environmental exposure provided that measures are taken to either minimize or correct for radon interferences and care is taken to prevent spurious discharges during handling. 12 refs., 5 figs., 9 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 379204
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 66; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
ELECTRETS
ENVIRONMENT
GAMMA RADIATION
IONIZATION CHAMBERS
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
PERFORMANCE
RADIATION MONITORING
THERMOLUMINESCENT DOSEMETERS