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Tritium measurement and monitoring in experimental and process systems with ionization chambers

Abstract

Historically, ionization chambers have been used successfully to measure low-level tritium concentrations in air for radiation protection purposes. Problems have been encountered in applying this technique to measure much higher concentrations of tritium in gases other than air, particularly to measure tritium in argon and helium. An experimental program was initiated to investigate the various factors that affect the response of ionization chambers. Carrier gas effects on the measurement of elemental tritium were investigated in the concentration range 0-150 Ci/m{sup 3}. Higher than theoretical calibration factors were obtained consistently with low-level tritium gas standards in both helium and argon, while with high-level gas standards the experimental calibration factors were close to the theoretical value. Use of a commercial ionization chamber to measure tritiated water vapour in dry air streams resulted in severe contamination of the chamber. Water swamping of the dry air stream reduced the ionization chamber contamination to a negligible level, allowing reliable measurements to be made. The calibration of ionization chambers with representative process gases and operating conditions is necessary to ensure reliable tritium concentration measurements. (Author) (15 refs., 7 figs., 3 tabs.).
Authors:
Rodrigo, L; Miller, J M; Bokwa, S R; Johnson, R E; MacDonald, B M; Senohrabek, J A [1] 
  1. Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River, ON (Canada). Chalk River Nuclear Labs.
Publication Date:
Nov 01, 1991
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
CFFTP-G-91115; AECL-10520.
Reference Number:
SCA: 440102; PA: AIX-25:011098; EDB-94:039278; ERA-19:010156; NTS-94:015680; SN: 94001152384
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Nov 1991
Subject:
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; IONIZATION CHAMBERS; CALIBRATION; TRITIUM OXIDES; RADIATION MONITORING; ACCURACY; ARGON; CARRIERS; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; HELIUM; HUMIDITY; IMPURITIES; 440102; RADIATION DOSEMETERS
OSTI ID:
10127226
Research Organizations:
Canadian Fusion Fuels Technology Project, Toronto, ON (Canada)
Country of Origin:
Canada
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE94613909; TRN: CA9301044011098
Availability:
OSTI; NTIS (US Sales Only); INIS
Submitting Site:
INIS
Size:
14 p.
Announcement Date:
Jul 04, 2005

Citation Formats

Rodrigo, L, Miller, J M, Bokwa, S R, Johnson, R E, MacDonald, B M, and Senohrabek, J A. Tritium measurement and monitoring in experimental and process systems with ionization chambers. Canada: N. p., 1991. Web.
Rodrigo, L, Miller, J M, Bokwa, S R, Johnson, R E, MacDonald, B M, & Senohrabek, J A. Tritium measurement and monitoring in experimental and process systems with ionization chambers. Canada.
Rodrigo, L, Miller, J M, Bokwa, S R, Johnson, R E, MacDonald, B M, and Senohrabek, J A. 1991. "Tritium measurement and monitoring in experimental and process systems with ionization chambers." Canada.
@misc{etde_10127226,
title = {Tritium measurement and monitoring in experimental and process systems with ionization chambers}
author = {Rodrigo, L, Miller, J M, Bokwa, S R, Johnson, R E, MacDonald, B M, and Senohrabek, J A}
abstractNote = {Historically, ionization chambers have been used successfully to measure low-level tritium concentrations in air for radiation protection purposes. Problems have been encountered in applying this technique to measure much higher concentrations of tritium in gases other than air, particularly to measure tritium in argon and helium. An experimental program was initiated to investigate the various factors that affect the response of ionization chambers. Carrier gas effects on the measurement of elemental tritium were investigated in the concentration range 0-150 Ci/m{sup 3}. Higher than theoretical calibration factors were obtained consistently with low-level tritium gas standards in both helium and argon, while with high-level gas standards the experimental calibration factors were close to the theoretical value. Use of a commercial ionization chamber to measure tritiated water vapour in dry air streams resulted in severe contamination of the chamber. Water swamping of the dry air stream reduced the ionization chamber contamination to a negligible level, allowing reliable measurements to be made. The calibration of ionization chambers with representative process gases and operating conditions is necessary to ensure reliable tritium concentration measurements. (Author) (15 refs., 7 figs., 3 tabs.).}
place = {Canada}
year = {1991}
month = {Nov}
}