Automated collection and processing of environmental samples

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:870776

Troyer, Gary L ^[1]; McNeece, Susan G ^[1]; Brayton, Darryl D ^[1]; Panesar, Amardip K ^[2]

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1. Richland, WA
2. Kennewick, WA

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.

• Research Organization: WESTINGHOUSE HANFORD CO
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-87RL10930
• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5591974
• OSTI ID: 870776
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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
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