An in-cell alpha detection system for radioisotope component assembly operations Page: 3 of 12
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WIIC-SA-1249-FP REV I
AN IN-CELL ALPHA DETECTION SYSTEM FOR
RADIOISOTOPE COMPONENT ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS
Betty A. Carteret Ronald W. Goles
Westinghouse Hanford Company Pacific Northwest Laboratory
P.O. Box 1970, Mail Stop N1-42 P.O. Box 999
Richland, WA 99352 Richland, WA 99352
(509) 376-8680 (509) 376-5157
ABSTRACT
A remotely operated alpha detection system is being developed for use at
the Radioisotope Power Systems Facility at the U.S. Department of Energy's
Hanford Site. It will be used in hot cells being constructed to assemble
components of Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators for space power
applications. The in-cell detection equipment wil) survey radiological swipe
samples to determine smearable surface contamination levels on radioisotope
fuel, fueled generator components, and hot--cell work areas. This system is
potentially adaptable to other hot cell and glovebox applications where
radiation dose rates and contamination levels are expected to be low.
INTRODUCTION
A remotely operated in-cell alpha detection system is being developed for
use at the Radioisotope Power Systems Facility (RPSF). The RPSF is a new
project currently under construction at the U.S. Department of Energy's
Hanford Site located in southeastern Washington State. The facility will be
located in the Fuels and Materials Examination Facility (FMEF) building, which
is being modified for this new mission. The RPSF is being designed by and
will be operated by Westinghouse Hanford Company' (Westinghouse Hgpford) to
produce radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) powered by Pu for
space power applications. The RPSF is being built for production of the same
type of RTGs as those used by the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) to provide electrical power for the recently launched
Galileo and Ulysses spacecrafts. The facility will have the flexibility to
adapt its production capability as required to meet the needs of the DOE and
NASA for production of other types of radioisotope-fueled power systems for
both space and terrestrial applications.
The in-cell alpha detection system will be used to provide radiological
measurements on swipes taken during hot-cell assembly operations in production
of general purpose heat source (GPHS) modules used in RTGs. The design was
conceived to simplify the radiological survey measurements and reduce operator
exposure. This system is in keeping with the Westinghouse Hanford radio-
logical design guidance, which promotes designs that reduce operator exposures
to levels as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). Mechanical and electrical
'Westinghouse Hanford is the operations and engineering contractor for
the U.S. Department of Energy at the Hanford Site.1
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Carteret, B.A. (Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)) & Goles, R.W. (Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)). An in-cell alpha detection system for radioisotope component assembly operations, article, September 1, 1991; Richland, Washington. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1104687/m1/3/?rotate=270: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.