Automated collection and processing of environmental samples
Abstract
For monitoring an environmental parameter such as the level of nuclear radiation, at distributed sites, bar coded sample collectors are deployed and their codes are read using a portable data entry unit that also records the time of deployment. The time and collector identity are cross referenced in memory in the portable unit. Similarly, when later recovering the collector for testing, the code is again read and the time of collection is stored as indexed to the sample collector, or to a further bar code, for example as provided on a container for the sample. The identity of the operator can also be encoded and stored. After deploying and/or recovering the sample collectors, the data is transmitted to a base processor. The samples are tested, preferably using a test unit coupled to the base processor, and again the time is recorded. The base processor computes the level of radiation at the site during exposure of the sample collector, using the detected radiation level of the sample, the delay between recovery and testing, the duration of exposure and the half life of the isotopes collected. In one embodiment, an identity code and a site code are optically read by an imagemore »
- Inventors:
-
- Richland, WA
- Kennewick, WA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- WESTINGHOUSE HANFORD CO
- OSTI Identifier:
- 870776
- Patent Number(s):
- 5591974
- Assignee:
- Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Pittsburgh, PA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01D - MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-87RL10930
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- automated; collection; processing; environmental; samples; monitoring; parameter; level; nuclear; radiation; distributed; sites; bar; coded; sample; collectors; deployed; codes; portable; data; entry; unit; records; time; deployment; collector; identity; referenced; memory; similarly; recovering; testing; code; stored; indexed; example; provided; container; operator; encoded; deploying; transmitted; base; processor; tested; preferably; coupled; recorded; computes; site; exposure; detected; delay; recovery; duration; half; life; isotopes; collected; embodiment; optically; image; grabber; radiation level; portable data; sample collector; environmental sample; nuclear radiation; environmental samples; bar code; bar coded; detected radiation; half life; data entry; /250/
Citation Formats
Troyer, Gary L, McNeece, Susan G, Brayton, Darryl D, and Panesar, Amardip K. Automated collection and processing of environmental samples. United States: N. p., 1997.
Web.
Troyer, Gary L, McNeece, Susan G, Brayton, Darryl D, & Panesar, Amardip K. Automated collection and processing of environmental samples. United States.
Troyer, Gary L, McNeece, Susan G, Brayton, Darryl D, and Panesar, Amardip K. Wed .
"Automated collection and processing of environmental samples". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870776.
@article{osti_870776,
title = {Automated collection and processing of environmental samples},
author = {Troyer, Gary L and McNeece, Susan G and Brayton, Darryl D and Panesar, Amardip K},
abstractNote = {For monitoring an environmental parameter such as the level of nuclear radiation, at distributed sites, bar coded sample collectors are deployed and their codes are read using a portable data entry unit that also records the time of deployment. The time and collector identity are cross referenced in memory in the portable unit. Similarly, when later recovering the collector for testing, the code is again read and the time of collection is stored as indexed to the sample collector, or to a further bar code, for example as provided on a container for the sample. The identity of the operator can also be encoded and stored. After deploying and/or recovering the sample collectors, the data is transmitted to a base processor. The samples are tested, preferably using a test unit coupled to the base processor, and again the time is recorded. The base processor computes the level of radiation at the site during exposure of the sample collector, using the detected radiation level of the sample, the delay between recovery and testing, the duration of exposure and the half life of the isotopes collected. In one embodiment, an identity code and a site code are optically read by an image grabber coupled to the portable data entry unit.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1997},
month = {1}
}