Apparatus and methods are provided for establishing the nature and level of radioactive sources within waste, particularly of a compactable nature. Detectors sensitive to low energy level radiation are provided with protection against dust contamination. Further detector configurations are provided
Apparatus and methods are provided for establishing the nature and level of radioactive sources within waste, particularly of a compactable nature. Detectors sensitive to low energy level radiation are provided with protection against dust contamination. Further detector configurations are provided to establish the presence of metallic material and/or higher energy level gamma emissions and/or detectors with a lower sensitivity to the emissions and/or detector configurations sensitive to neutrons are further provided.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A method for obtaining information on radioactive material associated with a body of material, the method comprising: providing an apparatus including a first type detector and a housing; introducing a body of material to an investigating location by the apparatus; detecting
What is claimed is: 1. A method for obtaining information on radioactive material associated with a body of material, the method comprising: providing an apparatus including a first type detector and a housing; introducing a body of material to an investigating location by the apparatus; detecting emissions from the radioactive material associated with the body of material, over a period of time, using the first type detector, the first type detector generating first type detector signals; processing the first type detector signals to give the information on the radioactive material associated with the body of material, wherein where the information is that the quantity of radioactive material is at or above a first threshold and below a second higher threshold, the body of material is to be removed to a second type of location and where the information is that the quantity of radioactive material is above a second threshold, the body of material is to be removed to a third type of location; and wherein, the housing encloses the first type detector, the housing includes a non-metallic portion between the first type detector and that part of the investigating location within the field of view of the first type detector, the housing encloses a first type detector environment and the first type detector environment is thermostatically controlled. 2. A method according to claim 1 in which the processor determines the amount of an isotope present in the body of material from the count rate at a particular energy, the energy being 60 keV+/-5 keV. 3. A method according to claim 2 in which the processor determines the amount of other isotopes and/or elements present by reference to one or more known ratios between the measured isotope and the other isotopes and/or elements, the ratios having been determined previously by chemical assay. 4. Apparatus for obtaining information on radioactive material associated with a body of material, the apparatus comprising: a first type detector, the first type detector detecting radioactivity and so providing first type detector signals representing a count rate for the first type detector and the first type detector having a field of view which includes at least part of an investigating location; a second type detector, the second type detector detecting radioactivity and so providing second type detector signals representing a count rate for the second type detector and the second type detector having a field of view which includes at least part of the investigating location, wherein the first type detector is sensitive to a range of activity levels and the second type detector is sensitive to a range of activity levels, the range of activity levels for which the first type detector is sensitive being lower than the range of activity levels for which the second type detector is sensitive; and a data processor for receiving the first type detector signals and the second type detector signals, the data processor being adapted to process only the second type detector signals to provide the information on the radioactive material associated with the body of material when the count rate for the second type detector is at or above a given count rate value. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the first type detector is sensitive to radiation of energy in a range between 10 keV and 70 keV. 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the second type detector is sensitive to radiation of energy in a range between 250 keV and 450 keV. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the second type detector is not sensitive to radiation of energy less than 100 keV. 8. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the first and second type detectors each comprise a same type of scintillator/crystal. 9. Apparatus according to claim 4 in the second type detector comprises a scintillator/crystal having a thickness of between 1.00 mm and 3.00 mm. 10. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the first and second type detectors each comprise a scintillator/crystal that is sensitive to radiation of energy between 10 keV and 70 keV. 11. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the second type detector comprises a scintillator/crystal and is collimated using a collimator material that obscures over 50% of the second type detector scintillator/crystal. 12. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which all of the investigating location is within the field of view of the second type of detector. 13. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the second type detector is sensitive to neutrons. 14. A method for obtaining information on radioactive material associated with a body of material, the method comprising: providing an apparatus including a first type detector and a second type detector; introducing the body of material to an investigating location at the apparatus; detecting emissions from the radioactive material associated with the body of material, over a period of time, using the first type detector, the first type detector generating first type detector signals representing a count rate for the first type detector; detecting emissions from the radioactive material associated with the body of material over a period of time, using the second type detector, the second type detector generating second type detector signals representing a count rate for the second type detector, wherein, the first type detector is sensitive to a range of activity levels and the second type detector is sensitive to a range of activity levels, the range of activity levels for which the first type detector is sensitive being lower than the range of activity levels for which the second type detector is sensitive; and processing the first type detector signals or the second type detector signals to give the information on the radioactive material associated with the body of material wherein only the second type detector signals provide the information on the radioactive material associated with the body of material when the count rate for the second type detector is at or above a given count rate value. 15. A method according to claim 14 in which the second type detector is used to verify the accurate performance of the first type detector. 16. A method according to claim 14 in which range of activity levels for which the first type detector is sensitive and the range of activity levels for which the second type detector is sensitive overlap partially. 17. A method according to claim 14 in which the first type detector is used to provide the information on the radioactive material associated with the body of material when the count rate for the second type detector is below a count rate value. 18. A method according to claim 14 in which the second type detector is used to provide the information on the radioactive material associated with the body of material when the count rate for the second type detector is at or above a count rate value. 19. A method according to claim 14 in which the second type detector is used to verify the accurate performance of the first type detector, the first type detector being sensitive to radiation of energy in a first energy range and the second type detector being sensitive to radiation of energy in a second energy range, the second energy range being the same as the first energy range. 20. A method according to claim 14 in which the range of activity levels for which the first type detector is sensitive is lower than the range of activity levels for which the second type detector is sensitive, the two ranges overlapping partially. 21. A method according to claim 14 in which the first type detector is used to provide the information on the radioactive material associated with the body of material when the count rate for the second type detector is below a count rate value. 22. A method according to claim 14 in which the second type detector is sensitive to neutrons. 23. A method for obtaining information on radioactive material associated with a body of material, the method comprising: providing an apparatus including a first type detector and a housing; introducing a body of material to an investigating location by the apparatus; detecting emissions from the radioactive material associated with the body of material, over a period of time, using the first type detector, the first type detector generating first type detector signals; processing the first type detector signals to give the information on the radioactive material associated with the body of material; wherein, the housing encloses the first type detector, the housing includes a non-metallic portion between the first type detector and that part of the investigating location within the field of view of the first type detector; and wherein when the information is that the quantity of radioactive material is at or above a first threshold and below a second higher threshold, the body of material is to be removed to a second type of location; and wherein when the information is that the quantity of radioactive material is above a second threshold, the body of material is to be removed to a third type of location. 24. A method comprising: providing an apparatus including a first type detector and a housing, the housing enclosing a first type detector environment that is thermostatically controlled; introducing a body of material to an investigating location by the apparatus, the investigating location including a portion that is within the field of view of the first type detector, the housing enclosing the first type detector and including a non-metallic portion disposed between the first type detector and the portion of the investigating location within the field of view of the first type detector; detecting emissions from radioactive material associated with the body of material over a period of time using the first type detector, the first type detector generating first type detector signals; and determining radioactivity information corresponding to radioactive material associated with the body of material based on the first type detector signals, wherein the radioactivity information comprises the quantity of radioactive material associated with the body of material; removing the body of material to a second type of location if the quantity of radioactive material is at or above a first threshold value and below a second threshold value; and removing the body of material to a third type of location if the quantity of radioactive material is at or above the second threshold value. 25. A method comprising: providing an apparatus including a first type detector and a housing; introducing a body of material to an investigating location by the apparatus, the investigating location including a portion that is within the field of view of the first type detector, the housing enclosing the first type detector and including a non-metallic portion disposed between the first type detector and the portion of the investigating location within the field of view of the first type detector; detecting emissions from radioactive material associated with the body of material over a period of time using the first type detector, the first type detector generating first type detector signals; determining the quantity of radioactive material associated with the body of material based on the first type detector signals; removing the body of material to a second type of location if the quantity of radioactive material is at or above a first threshold value and below a second threshold value; and removing the body of material to a third type of location if the quantity of radioactive material is at or above the second threshold value.
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