A simple laboratory system for diffusive radon flux measurements

International Nuclear Science and Technology Conference 2014

Kranrod, C.^1 ; Chanyotha, S.^1 ; Tonlublao, S.^1 ; Burnett, W.C.^2,3

Department of Nuclear Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand^1

Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee

FL, United States^2

Nuclear Engineering/Nuclear Technology Program, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand^3

关键词: Diffusive flux;    Drying systems;    Initial slope method;    Laboratory system;    Minimal thickness;    Radon activities;    Solid material;    Wet sediments;   

Others  :  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/611/1/012028/pdf
DOI  :  10.1088/1742-6596/611/1/012028

来源: IOP

【 摘 要 】

This study designed a simple, custom-made system to estimate the diffusive radon flux from solid materials (e.g., sediments, soils, building materials). Determination of the radon flux is based on the measurement of the radon activity in the air over time inside a closed loop system. For sediments, the system consists of wet sediment and water inside a gas-tight flask connected in a closed loop to a drying system and a radon analyzer (Durridge RAD7). The flux is determined based on an initial slope method in which the slope of radon activities vs. time plot during the first 12 h is evaluated. The slope is then multiplied by the total air volume and divided by the exposed sediment area to obtain the radon flux. The minimal thickness or mass of wet sediment should be about 4 cm or (equivalent to approximately 150 g of wet sediment) to obtain a reliable radon diffusive flux in this study.