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VeriTainer radiation detector for intermodal shipping containers
Abstract
The VeriSpreaderTM radiation detection system will monitor every container passing through a shipping terminal without impeding the flow of commerce by making the radiation measurements during normal container handling. This is accomplished by integrating neutron and spectroscopic γ-ray detectors into a container crane spreader bar, the part of the crane that directly engages the intermodal shipping containers while moving from ship to shore and vice versa. The use of a spectroscopic γ-detector reduces the rate of nuisance alarms due to naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM). The combination of γ and neutron detection reduces the effectiveness of shielding and countermeasures. The challenges in this spreader bar-based approach arise from the harsh environment, particularly the mechanical shock and the vibration of the moving spreader bar, since the measurement is taken while the container is moving. The electrical interfaces in the port environment, from the crane to a central monitoring office, present further challenges. It is the packaging, electronic interfaces, and data processing software that distinguish this system, which is based on conventional radiation sensors. The core of the system is Amptek's GAMMA-RAD, which integrates a ruggedized scintillator/PMT, digital pulse shaping electronics, electronics for the neutron detector, power supplies, and an Ethernet interface. The design of the VeriTainer system and results from both the laboratory and a proof-of-concept test at the Port of Oakland, California will be presented.
... Monitoring cargo for nuclear materials is essential for border security and nonproliferation efforts [2,3]. To provide better radiation detection coverage on cargo containers, some companies have investigated the use of detection systems directly mounted to ship-to-shore container gantry cranes [2][3][4]. These spreaders weigh in excess of 15 tons and routinely collide with shipping containers and other objects at operating speeds during their day-to-day operations. ...
... At sea level, it is predominantly due to terrestrial gamma-rays and to lesser degree cosmic-ray-induced gamma-rays. Accordingly, in the present study we analyse five similar measured natural background gamma-radiation pulseheight spectra (three from the USA and two from Europe), as collected using NaI(Tl) detectors of similar size (Lowder et al. 1964;Blum et al. 1997;Aage et al. 1999;Busby 2005;Redus et al. 2007). From these spectra, we calculated a single weighted-average spectrum curve (figure 2). ...
Ongoing controversy surrounds the adverse health effects of the use of depleted uranium (DU) munitions. The biological effects of gamma-radiation arise from the direct or indirect interaction between secondary electrons and the DNA of living cells. The probability of the absorption of X-rays and gamma-rays with energies below about 200 keV by particles of high atomic number is proportional to the third to fourth power of the atomic number. In such a case, the more heavily ionizing low-energy recoil electrons are preferentially produced; these cause dose enhancement in the immediate vicinity of the particles. It has been claimed that upon exposure to naturally occurring background gamma-radiation, particles of DU in the human body would produce dose enhancement by a factor of 500-1000, thereby contributing a significant radiation dose in addition to the dose received from the inherent radioactivity of the DU. In this study, we used the Monte Carlo code EGSnrc to accurately estimate the likely maximum dose enhancement arising from the presence of micrometre-sized uranium particles in the body. We found that although the dose enhancement is significant, of the order of 1-10, it is considerably smaller than that suggested previously.
A proposal for an autonomous and flexible ship container inspection system is presented. This could be accomplished by the incorporation of an inspection system on various container transportation devices (straddle carriers, yard gentry cranes, automated guided vehicles, trailers). The configuration is terminal specific and it should be defined by the container terminal operator. This enables that no part of the port operational area is used for inspection. The inspection scenario includes container transfer from ship to transportation device with the inspection unit mounted on it. The inspection is performed during actual container movement to the container location. A neutron generator without associated alpha particle detection is used. This allows the use of higher neutron intensities ( 5×109 − 1010 n/s in 4π). The inspected container is stationary in the “inspection position” on the transportation device while the “inspection unit” moves along its side. The following analytical methods will be used simultaneously: neutron radiography, X-ray radiography, neutron activation analysis, (n, γ) and (n,n’ γ) reactions, neutron absorption. and scattering, X-ray backscattering. The neutron techniques will utilize “smart collimators” for neutrons and gamma rays, both emitted and detected. The inspected voxel is defined by the intersection of the neutron generator and the detectors solid angles. The container inspection protocol is based on identification of discrepancies between the cargo manifest, elemental “fingerprint” and radiography profiles. In addition, the information on container weight is obtained during the container transport and screening by measuring of density of material in the container.
The book is a complete, clear and up-to-date text that provides a basic
review of instruments and methods of ionizing radiation. The text covers
detailed discussion of all detector types; introductory discussions of
radiation sources, interactions, and counting statistics; functional
analysis of the electronics and pulse processing aspects of radiation
detectors in instrumentation systems; and consideration of shielding and
background potentially vital in low-level counting. A total of 350
figures and approximately 900 references to current scientific
literature is included. The book is largely intended as a textbook for a
junior/senior or first-year graduate course in nuclear instrumentation
and radiation measurements.
As the title suggests, this book sets out to provide a practical guide to carrying out accurate and reliable quantitative -ray spectrometry. It does this by not only discussing the various kinds of detectors, electronics and data acquisition systems that are available, but also by setting out in detail the data analysis techniques required to produce -ray intensities and source strengths. This book is clearly aimed at those who carry out quantitative analysis as a profession. Since the authors run training courses for professional -spectrometrists, I am sure that they are aware of their needs and have written the book accordingly. As a university academic, I have looked at the book from the viewpoint of its usefulness to undergraduates carrying out nuclear physics experiements in teaching laboratories, and postgraduate students starting their research careers. The emphasis of the book is very much on the daily operations needed to perform a specific task well. However, there is sufficient background material on the equipment and techniques in the book to make it a valuable manual for any user of -ray detectors. This book will be an excellent addition to an undergraduate teaching laboratory library. Any student who explores a relevant portion of the text will learn about the devices they are using, and will discover the possible pitfalls of -ray measurements. The authors also explain lucidly and in detail the optimum proceedures. Postgraduate students are often expected to learn techniques as they go along, relying upon the experience passed on by their seniors. One reason for this, perhaps, has been the lack of a suitable and practical manual. Reading this book may make many a postgraduate student think more deeply about what they are doing, and how they are doing it. Consequently, I should recommend that Practical Gamma-ray Spectrometry be added to nuclear physics resaearch libraries. The book is written in a relaxed style, which mekes it easy to read. It is divided into many sections which permits anyone with a particular problem to focus on that. The text, with its associated tables and figures, contains a lot of useful information. There are one or two oddities in the text. For example, the expression for the capacitance of a parallel-plate condenser must be in a system of units unknown to modern electromagnetic textbooks, and the equation for the impedance of combined resistance, inductance and capacitance is plain wrong. Taken as a whole though, this book is an excellent guide to the taking and analysing of -ray data, and I recommend it highly.
Container crane radiation detection systems and methods, US Patent 6
- J Alioto
- M Alioto
J. Alioto, M. Alioto, Container crane radiation detection systems and
methods, U.S. Patent 6,768,421
House passes $7.4 billion port security bill
- Jonathan Weisman
Jonathan Weisman, House passes $7.4 billion port security bill,
Washington Post, 5 May 06