Active radon detection unit

EMİRHAN M. E.

Radiation Measurements, cilt.181, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 181
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2025.107373
  • Dergi Adı: Radiation Measurements
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Chemical Abstracts Core, Compendex, INSPEC, Pollution Abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Active radon measurement, Indoor radon, Radon, Si-PIN photodiode
  • İstanbul Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Radon (222Rn) is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that poses health risks when accumulated indoors. In this study, we present the design and implementation of an Active Radon Detection Unit (ARDU) for indoor radon measurements. The ARDU utilizes Si-PIN photodiodes for the electrostatic collection of radon progeny, enabling the real-time monitoring of radon levels. It also integrates some sensors for measuring ambient temperature, humidity, pressure, carbon monoxide, and methane, providing a comprehensive indoor air quality assessment. The ARDU consists of six main components: the amplifier board, the collection chamber, the high voltage module, the microprocessor integrated control board, the global system for mobile communication module, and the liquid crystal display touch screen. The amplifier board amplifies and digitizes the signals generated from the alpha particles depositing their energy in Si-PIN photodiodes. The control board processes the data from the environmental sensors and amplifier board and transfers these to an integrated microprocessor. A mobile communication module facilitates remote data transmission via a short message service. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the ARDU in measuring radon levels in indoor environments. Comparative analysis with commercially available radon detectors shows a good agreement within the daily average. Two different methods were performed for converting the raw counts per hour to Bq/m3. A radon emanation standard source and a calibrated gold standard device were used as a reference. Secondly, statistical analysis confirms the significance of the regression model used for converting raw detector signals to Bq/m3 units. Overall, the ARDU provides a cost-effective solution for continuous indoor radon monitoenvironmental factors. The device's portability and affordability make it suitable for widespread deployment, contributing to comprehensive radon monitoring efforts.