CAM correlation to fixed air sample data at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Conference
·
OSTI ID:45329
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
Continuous air monitoring instruments (CAMs) deployed in laboratories in the TA-55 plutonium facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) alarmed less than 33 percent of the time when fixed air sample measurements in the same laboratory showed integrated concentrations exceeding 500 DAC-hrs. The purpose of this study was to explore effects of non-instrument variables on alarm sensitivities for properly working CAMs. Non-instrument variables include air flow patterns, particle size of released material, and the energy of the release. Dilution Factors (DFs) for 21 airborne releases in various rooms and of different magnitudes were calculated and compared. The median DF for releases where the CAM alarmed was 13.1 while the median DF for releases where the CAM did not alarm was 179. Particle sizes ranged considerably with many particles larger than 10 {mu}m. The cause of the release was found to be important in predicting if a CAM would alarm with releases from bagouts resulting in the greatest percentage of CAM alarms. The results of this study suggest that a two-component strategy for CAM placement at LANL be utilized. The first component would require CAMs at exhaust points in the rooms to provide for reliable detection for random release locations. The second component would require placing CAMs at locations where releases have historically been seen. Finally, improvements in CAM instrumentation is needed.
- Research Organization:
- USDOE Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety, and Health, Washington, DC (United States). Office of Health; USDOE Nevada Field Office, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 45329
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9304128--; ON: DE95004507
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Continuous air monitor correlation to fixed air sample data at Los Alamos National Laboratory
The continuing saga of alpha CAM (continuous air monitor) development at Los Alamos
A review of acceptance testing of the Los Alamos/Canberra Alpha Sentry Continuous Air Monitor (CAM)
Conference
·
Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993
·
OSTI ID:10157076
The continuing saga of alpha CAM (continuous air monitor) development at Los Alamos
Conference
·
Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1988
·
OSTI ID:5519943
A review of acceptance testing of the Los Alamos/Canberra Alpha Sentry Continuous Air Monitor (CAM)
Technical Report
·
Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1998
·
OSTI ID:296724