Sensitivity and uncertainty in the measurement of H*(10) in neutron fields using an REM500 and a multi-element TEPC.
The REM500 is a commercial instrument based on a tissue-equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) that has been successfully deployed as a hand-held neutron monitor, although its sensitivity is regarded by some workers as low for nuclear power plant radiation protection work. Improvements in sensitivity can be obtained using a multi-element proportional counter design in which a large number of small detecting cavities replace the single large volume cavity of conventional TEPCs. In this work, the authors quantify the improvement in uncertainty that can be obtained by comparing the ambient dose equivalent measured with a REM500, which utilises a 5.72 cm (2(1/4) inch) diameter Rossi counter, with that of a multi-element TEPC designed to have the sensitivity of a 12.7 cm (5 inch) spherical TEPC. The results obtained also provide some insight into the influence of other design features of TEPCs, such as geometry and gas filling, on the measurement of ambient dose equivalent.
Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, ON, Canada, L1H 7K4 Anthony.Waker@uoit.ca.
Anthony
A
Waker
Ionising Radiation Division, National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LW, UK.
Graeme
G
Taylor
D000576:Americium; D001608:Beryllium; D001822:Body Burden; D002138:Calibration; D002142:Californium; D004867:Equipment Design; D005740:Gases; D006801:Humans; D009502:Neutrons; D055848:Nuclear Power Plants; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
D005740:Gases; D002142:Californium; D001608:Beryllium; D000576:Americium