Real-time transuranic monitoring with a Victoreen Model 758 alpha continuous air monitor

Technical Report · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7166467· OSTI ID:7166467

McIsaac, C. V.; Amaro, C. R.

Data are presented on the performance of the Victoreen Model 758 alpha continuous air monitor (CAM). The solid state silicon detector installed in the Model 758 alpha CAM was calibrated using {sup 239}Pu filter standards specifically prepared for this study. The calibration of the Model 758's mass flow sensor was checked using a conventional flow meter. Using the alpha CAM, ambient air was sampled overnight inside the ETRC Building at TRA and inside the RWMC Building WMF 602. Dust-laden air was generated inside a glove-box using an aerosolizer and samples of soil from the vicinity of the Rocky Flats Plant and the RWMC. This glove-box air was sampled on several occasions to determine the effect of dust loading on the response of the CAM to natural background radiation. High-mass {sup 239}Pu filter standards were also prepared and analyzed to determine the effect of mass loading on the response of the detector to {sup 239}Pu deposited on a sample collection filter. Two commonly used spectrum analysis techniques -- the three-window method and the Los Alamos four-window method -- were evaluated using alpha spectra collected during samplings of natural ambient air. 9 refs., 39 figs., 42 tabs.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/NE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 7166467
• Report Number(s): EGG-WM-8774; ON: DE90007019
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440101* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
AEROSOLS
AIR QUALITY
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ALPHA DOSIMETRY
ALPHA SPECTRA
CALIBRATION
COLLOIDS
COMPILED DATA
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DATA
DATA PROCESSING
DISPERSIONS
DOSIMETRY
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EQUIPMENT
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FILTERS
HEAVY NUCLEI
INFORMATION
ISOTOPES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
MONITORING
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
PORTABLE EQUIPMENT
PROCESSING
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOISOTOPES
REAL TIME SYSTEMS
SAMPLING
SOLS
SPECTRA
STANDARDS
TESTING
TRANSURANIUM COMPLEXES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES