Radioactive Anomaly Detector for Shielded Nuclear Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting special nuclear materials (SNM) in storage containers are invasive, impractical for broad area scanning, and can be shielded by radiation, hindering efficient identification of illicit nuclear threats in port cities without impeding commerce.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive detector apparatus that collects gaseous samples from storage containers using a collector and directs them to a test chamber where an excitation element, such as a laser, excites the sample, and a spectrum analyzing device identifies elevated isotopic species concentrations indicative of SNM, allowing for remote and real-time detection without direct line of sight or shielding interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If passive Gamma Ray detection is used to detect nuclear materials, then detection sensitivity is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to radiation shielding and interference from other X-Ray sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a collector as an intermediary component that captures gaseous samples from the container interior and transports them to a remote testing location. This mediator allows the detection system to operate away from the container, eliminating vulnerability to radiation shielding while maintaining detection sensitivity through accumulated isotopic species analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts gaseous samples containing isotopic species from the container interior using the collector and transfers them to a remote test chamber. By taking the sample out from the potentially shielded environment, the detection process becomes immune to radiation shielding while preserving the ability to detect nuclear materials through spectroscopic analysis
2Measurement precision
If active X-Ray detection is used to identify materials, then material identification capability is improved, but the method is limited to secondary screening and requires high levels of X-Ray exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by collecting and accumulating gaseous samples from the container interior before actual detection occurs. The collector continuously gathers isotopic species over time, building up sufficient concentration for detection, which simplifies the subsequent analysis process and enables primary screening rather than requiring secondary screening
3Measurement precision
If LIBS method is used for surface residual testing, then surface material detection is improved, but the method is limited to specific point screening and cannot cover broad areas or volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic principles through the collector system that uses gas flow to transport sampled particles from the container interior to the test chamber. This pneumatic transport mechanism enables broad area and volume coverage by continuously drawing in gaseous samples from throughout the container space, overcoming the limited point-by-point coverage of LIBS surface testing
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient, non-invasive detection of shielded SNM by leveraging the buildup of anomalous isotopic species in the container atmosphere, providing near real-time identification with high sensitivity and accuracy, immune to shielding, and maintaining commerce flow.
Implementation Method 1
an excitation element to excite the sample in the test chamber
Implementation Method 2
a spectrum analyzing device coupled to the test chamber to analyze the excited sample
Data Source
AI summary
A detector apparatus is provided and includes a collector having access to a sample of a gaseous fluid and a tester coupled to and disposed remotely from the collector. The tester includes a test chamber into which a sample is directed from the collector, an excitation element to excite the sample in the test chamber and a spectrum analyzing device coupled to the test chamber to analyze the excited sample for evidence of a concentration of particles of interest in the gaseous fluid exceeding a threshold concentration. The threshold concentration is defined in accordance with a type of the particles of interest and a residence time of the sample.