Patent · US Expired

System for monitoring the radioactivity of liquid waste

US5257297A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
10References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 14, 1992
Grant dateOct 26, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 14, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01T7/02
  • WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A system for monitoring the radioactivity of a liquid waste stream includes a pair of tanks into which the liquid waste stream is directed during alternating fill cycles. At the conclusion of each fill cycle, the liquid waste is recirculated through the chamber of a radioactivity monitor. A pair of opposed radiation detectors, external to the chamber, generate activity measurements to a controller indicative of the radionuclide concentration levels in the liquid waste. The tanks are then emptied either to the environment or back to a decontamination facility for further processing depending on the indicated radionuclide concentration level. System operation, including periodic servicing of the monitor, is automatically coordinated by the controller to avoid interruption of the liquid waste stream filling the tanks.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.