Portable two-filter dual-flow-loop 222Rn detector: stand-alone monitor and calibration transfer device
<p>Little overlap exists in the required capabilities of <sup>222</sup>Rn (radon) monitors for public health and atmospheric research. The former requires robust, compact, easily transportable instruments to characterise daily to yearly variability >100 Bq m<sup>−3</sup>, whereas the latter requires static instruments capable of characterising sub-hourly variability between 0.1 and 100 Bq m<sup>−3</sup>. Consequently, detector development has evolved independently for the two research communities, and while many radon measurements are being made world-wide, the full potential of this measurement network can't be realised because not all results are comparable. Development of a monitor that satisfies the primary needs of both measurement communities, including a calibration traceable to the International System of Units (SI), would constitute an important step toward (i) increasing the availability of radon measurements to both research communities, and (ii) providing a means to harmonize and compare radon measurements across the existing eclectic global network of radon detectors. To this end, we describe a prototype detector built by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), in collaboration with the EMPIR 19ENV01 <em>traceRadon</em> Project and Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). This two-filter dual-flow-loop radon monitor can be transported in a standard vehicle, fits in a 19<sup>′′</sup> instrument rack, has a 30 min temporal resolution, and a detection limit of ∼0.14 Bq m<sup>−3</sup>. It is capable of continuous, long-term, low-maintenance, low-power, indoor or outdoor monitoring with a high sensitivity and an uncertainty of ∼15 % at 1 Bq m<sup>−3</sup>. Furthermore, we demonstrate the successful transfer of an SI traceable calibration from this portable monitor to a 1500 L two-filter radon monitor under field conditions.</p>
ShareScore
40/100
Overall dataset sharing score
Score breakdown
These five areas show where the dataset supports — or may limit — practical reuse.
- Stewardship
- 8
- Harmonization
- 4
- Access
- 16
- Reuse readiness
- 8
- Engagement
- 4
Topics
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