Method and apparatus for the verification of helium-3 proportional counters
US5422480A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 3, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jun 6, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 3, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V5/10
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method and apparatus for verifying operation and achieving gain stabilization in a helium-3 proportional counter radiation detector utilized in nuclear logging operations. The detector includes a beta-minus particle source selected to provide a predetermined number of radiation counts for a specified time period to verify detector operation. The beta-minus source is further utilized to achieve detector gain stabilization by defining two energy windows on either side of the characteristic beta-minus energy peak. The difference in counts for the two energy windows is used to define an error signal which is applied to negative feedback loop in the detector electronics. The beta-minus source is preferably selected such that the type of source and activity is exempt from Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing and safety requirements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.