Abstract

The National Institute for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection, under the European project 16ENV10 MetroRADON (the European metrology program for innovation and research, EMPIR), has developed unique equipment for the testing of measuring devices at low-level radon activity concentrations. The equipment consists particularly of an airtight low-level radon chamber (LLRCH) with an inner volume of 324 liters; a Rn-222 type RF 5 flow-through source with a Ra-226 activity of 4.955 kBq developed by Czech Metrological Institute within the above-mentioned project; and a pressure vessel as a radon-free air source. The mass flow controller of the Bronkhorst EL-Flow type is a part of the apparatus and ensures the requested airflow through the radon source—partialized if necessary—through the chamber. The homogeneity of the atmosphere in the chamber is ensured by means of a continuously regulated fan (airflows in the range of 0.1–3.5 m·s−1 can be established). Another important chamber component is the measuring device of climatic conditions, since temperature, air pressure, and relative humidity must be determined. The construction of the equipment allows the time-stable radon activity concentration to be maintained at a precise level for several days. Radon concentration values can be arbitrarily and continuously set in the range from 100 Bq·m−3 to 300 Bq·m−3.

Highlights

  • Radon 222 is a naturally occurring radioactive noble gas as a member of the natural uranium–radium family

  • The low‐level radon chamber of SUJCHBO, v.v.i. is a specific device developed for the calibration of measuring devices at a low‐level radon activity concentration in the range of 100 Bq∙m−3 to 300 Bq∙m−3

  • Many tests have validated the air‐tightness of the chamber and the possibility of adjusting a stable radon activity concentration to a required level for several days

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Summary

Introduction

Radon 222 is a naturally occurring radioactive noble gas as a member of the natural uranium–radium family. Non-gaseous, short-lived radon-daughter products attached to aerosols are present in inhaled air. The settling of such aerosols in the respiratory tract leads to the alpha irradiation of the bronchial system [1]. The WHO [2] estimated that between 3% and 14% of all lung cancer cases in the world are caused by radon (or radon decay products, respectively) depending on the average of the radon level in the country. Radon measurement techniques to evaluate the radon concentration in dwellings are simple, efficient and precise. The evaluation and calibration of measuring devices for radon and radon daughter products (RnDP). MetroRADON, keeping a stable radon activity concentration at a assignment precise leveloffor several days (RnDP) requires stable conditions of radon activity concentration. MetroRADON, keeping a stable radon activity concentration at a precisedevices level foratseveral radon concentrations.

Material and Methods
Reference Level of Radon
Low-Level Radon Chamber
Low-Level Radon Source
Scheme
Mass Flow Controller
Experiments in LLRCH
The rateexperiment in the experiment set to
Radon Chamber Modelling
Uncertainties
Discussion and Conclusions
Full Text
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