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Apparatus having reduced background for measuring radiation activity in aerosol particles

Patent ·
OSTI ID:868381
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [2]
  1. Santa Fe, NM
  2. College Station, TX
  3. Bryan, TX
+ Show Author Affiliations
Apparatus having reduced background for measuring radiation activity in aerosol particles. A continuous air monitoring sampler is described for use in detecting the presence of alpha-emitting aerosol particles. An inlet fractionating screen has been demonstrated to remove about 95% of freshly formed radon progeny from the aerosol sample, and approximately 33% of partially aged progeny. Addition of an electrical condenser and a modified dichotomous virtual impactor are expected to produce considerable improvement in these numbers, the goal being to enrich the transuranic (TRU) fraction of the aerosols. This offers the possibility of improving the signal-to-noise ratio for the detected alpha-particle energy spectrum in the region of interest for detecting TRU materials associated with aerosols, thereby enhancing the performance of background-compensation algorithms for improving the quality of alarm signals intended to warn personnel of potentially harmful quantities of TRU materials in the ambient air.
Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Number(s):
US 5128539
OSTI ID:
868381
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (7)

On Improving the Validity of Wire Screen “Unattached” Fraction Rn Daughter Measurements journal January 1989
An on-Line Monitor for Alpha-Emitting Aerosols journal January 1978
Plutonium Aerosol Size Characteristics journal January 1974
Experimental Measurements of the Diffusion Coefficient of 212Pb journal January 1989
Continuous Monitor for Prompt Detection of Airborne Plutonium journal January 1966
The ZPR-9 Airborne Plutonium Monitoring System journal January 1976
An Evaluation of Unattached Radon (and Thoron) Daughter Measurement Techniques journal January 1982

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