Field testing of a portable two-filter dual-flow-loop 222Rn detector

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dc.contributor.authorChambers, SDen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMorosh, Ven_AU
dc.contributor.authorGriffiths, ADen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWilliams, AGen_AU
dc.contributor.authorRöttger, Sen_AU
dc.contributor.authorRöttger, Aen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2023-03-28T21:17:58Zen_AU
dc.date.available2023-03-28T21:17:58Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2021-04-19en_AU
dc.date.statistics2023-03-27en_AU
dc.description.abstractAn overlapping need exists between the climate science, air quality and radiological protection communities for a robust, portable and direct monitor of atmospheric 222Rn concentrations typical of the ambient outdoor atmosphere. To reliably characterise afternoon radon concentrations, or resolve daytime vertical radon gradients in the atmospheric boundary layer (requirements for radon measurements to be used to evaluate the performance of chemical transport models), detection limits of ≤0.2 Bq m-3 at an hourly temporal resolution are required. Commercial portable radon detectors are mainly designed for indoor use, and the best of these has a detection limit of ≥2 Bq m-3 for hourly sampling, with an approximate uncertainty of 60% at typical outdoor daytime radon concentrations. Here we introduce a portable (200 L) version of the two-filter dual-flow-loop radon detector, designed and built by ANSTO in collaboration with the EMPIR 19ENV01 traceRadon project. While not as compact as commercial monitors (standing 1.6 m tall, and 0.48 m wide), its longest component is 1.2 m, enabling transportation in a standard utility vehicle or 4x4 (and can fit inside a 19” instrument rack). Constructed of marine grade stainless steel, it is weather resistant, robust, and suitable for long-term, continuous, autonomous deployment; in fact it is fully remotely controllable if a networked computer is available. The estimated lower limit of detection is 0.17 Bq m-3 for hourly observations, and the counting uncertainty at typical ambient outdoor radon concentrations is around 7%. Additional uncertainty associated with current calibration techniques, which inject calibration gas on top of ambient sampled air, varies from 2-6%. Some objectives of the traceRadon project include establishing direct calibration traceability to the SI and developing an improved closed-loop calibration technique, using a new, low activity Radium-226 source. If successful, the absolute accuracy of the 200 L radon detector at typical ambient outdoor concentrations could be kept well below 15% for hourly observations. This project has received funding from the EMPIR programme co-financed by the Participating States and from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. 19ENV01 traceRadon denotes the EMPIR project reference.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationChambers, S., Morosh, V., Griffiths, A., Williams, A., Röttger, S., & Röttger, A. (2021). Field testing of a portable two-filter dual-flow-loop 222Rn detector. Paper presented to the EGU General Assembly 2021, online, 19–30 Apr 2021, EGU21-196. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu21-196en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate30 April 2021en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencenameEGU General Assembly 2021en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceOnlineen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate19 April 2021en_AU
dc.identifier.otherEGU21-196en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu21-196en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/14750en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherCopernicus GmbHen_AU
dc.subjectRadon 222en_AU
dc.subjectRadiation detectorsen_AU
dc.subjectClimatesen_AU
dc.subjectAmbient temperatureen_AU
dc.subjectConcentration ratioen_AU
dc.subjectBoundary layersen_AU
dc.subjectCalibrationen_AU
dc.subjectANSTOen_AU
dc.titleField testing of a portable two-filter dual-flow-loop 222Rn detectoren_AU
dc.typeConference Paperen_AU
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