Field transportable beta spectrometer. Innovative technology summary report

Technical Report · Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/335209· OSTI ID:335209

The objective of the Large-Scale Demonstration Project (LSDP) is to select and demonstrate potentially beneficial technologies at the Argonne National Laboratory-East (ANL) Chicago Pile-5 Test Reactor (CP-5). The purpose of the LSDP is to demonstrate that by using innovative and improved deactivation and decommissioning (D and D) technologies from various sources, significant benefits can be achieved when compared to baseline D and D technologies. One such capability being addressed by the D and D Focus Area is rapid characterization for facility contaminants. The technology was field demonstrated during the period January 7 through January 9, 1997, and offers several potential benefits, including faster turn-around time, cost reduction, and reduction in secondary waste. This report describes a PC controlled, field-transportable beta counter-spectrometer which uses solid scintillation coincident counting and low-noise photomultiplier tubes to count element-selective filters and other solid media. The dry scintillation counter used in combination with an element-selective technology eliminates the mess and disposal costs of liquid scintillation cocktails. Software in the instrument provides real-time spectral analysis. The instrument can detect and measure Tc-99, Sr-90, and other beta emitters reaching detection limits in the 20 pCi range (with shielding). Full analysis can be achieved in 30 minutes. The potential advantages of a field-portable beta counter-spectrometer include the savings gained from field generated results. The basis for decision-making is provided with a rapid turnaround analysis in the field. This technology would be competitive with the radiometric analysis done in fixed laboratories and the associated chain of custody operations.

• Research Organization: Dept. of Energy Office of Science and Technology, Washington, DC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 335209
• Report Number(s): DOE/EM-0399; ON: TI99002346; IN: OST Reference No. 1853; NC: NONE; TRN: 99:005109
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: Dec 1998
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
22 NUCLEAR REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
05 NUCLEAR FUELS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CP-5 REACTOR
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
DECONTAMINATION
DECOMMISSIONING
PORTABLE EQUIPMENT
BETA SPECTROMETERS
COINCIDENCE METHODS
SOLID SCINTILLATION DETECTORS