Design, construction, and use of a shipping case for radioactive sources used in the calibration of portal monitors in the radiation portal monitoring project

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2009 · Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 282(3):861-864

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-009-0299-9· OSTI ID:971890

Lepel, Elwood A; Hensley, Walter K

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is working with US Customs and Border Protection to assist in the installation of radiation portal monitors. We need to provide radioactive sources – both gamma- and neutron-emitting – to ports of entry where the monitors are being installed. The monitors must be calibrated to verify proper operation and detection sensitivity. We designed a portable source-shipping case using numerical modeling to predict the neutron dose rate at the case’s surface. The shipping case including radioactive sources meets the DOT requirements for “limited quantity.” Over 300 shipments, domestic and international, were made in FY2008 using this type of shipping case.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 971890
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-65661; JRNCDM; 400904120; TRN: US1001269
• Journal Information: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 282(3):861-864, Vol. 282, Issue 3; ISSN 0236-5731
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
CALIBRATION
CONSTRUCTION
DESIGN
DETECTION
DOSE RATES
MONITORING
MONITORS
NEUTRONS
RADIATIONS
SENSITIVITY
SIMULATION
shipping
case
moderator
shielding
neutron
gamma
source
calibration
radiation
portal monitor
DOT
Department of Transportation
limited quantity
MCNP