Sensor integration in radioactive environments

Mark Harfensteller; Michael Schilp; Andreas Eursch; Michael F. Zaeh

doi:10.1117/12.571419

8 December 2004 Sensor integration in radioactive environments

Mark Harfensteller, Michael Schilp, Andreas Eursch, Michael F. Zaeh

Proceedings Volume 5590, Sensors for Harsh Environments; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.571419
Event: Optics East, 2004, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Abstract

Radioactive material of high activity levels has to be handled in a nuclear medicine environment. Until now most of these activities are done manually or by rudimentally automated processes. To increase radiation safety and process quality, smart automation strategies for these processes have to be developed. Especially long-term processes with radioactive materials have to be automated in early stages of development. This leads to a certain flexibility regarding requirements demanding an adjustable automation concept. The application of radiation hardened sensors is expensive but even these sensors will be destroyed by radiation effects. To allow therefore standard sensors to be used in radioactive environments, different strategies have been tested: In general, the sensors must be applied in a way to allow an easy access to sensors for replacement purposes. But this approach might not be sophisticated. An additional solution is the reduction of exposure of sensitive parts such as electronics. This means dividing the sensor in a measuring part which is placed in the radioactive environment and in a sensitive, shielded control part as it is realized by fibre optic sensors. The implementation of these approaches is demonstrated in sensor applications for radium handling systems e. g. contactless control of the needle clearance of a dispensing system via a fibre optic sensor. Further scenarios for sensor integration problems are presented in this paper.

Citation Download Citation

Mark Harfensteller, Michael Schilp, Andreas Eursch, and Michael F. Zaeh "Sensor integration in radioactive environments", Proc. SPIE 5590, Sensors for Harsh Environments, (8 December 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.571419

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