Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Optimization of the thoron progeny compensation system of a thoron calibration chamber

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The long-term stability and homogeneity of thoron progeny are key to the performance of a thoron calibration chamber, which is vital to quality assurance in measuring thoron progeny. It is difficult to build a stable and high level of thoron progeny because the half-life of 212Pb is long. Thus, a stable and efficient compensation system is necessary to compensate for the loss of thoron progeny caused by sampling, decay, and wall deposition. In this paper, a thoron progeny compensation system at the University of South China is optimized, and a suitable ventilation rate regulation method is developed that can effectively improve the activity level and stability of output rate for thoron progeny. The experimental results show that the 212Pb activity output rate increases by 28% and that the output rate is more stable. Under these conditions, the time for the output rate of ThB activity to reach stability is reduced by 33%, and for ThC, the time to reach stability is reduced by 40%. Furthermore, the concentration ratios of ThC and ThB range from 0 to 0.82.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. UNSCEAR (2008) Source and effects of ionizing radiation. United Nations, New York

    Google Scholar 

  2. Rottger A, Honig A, Arnold D (2009) The German thoron progeny chamber—concept and application. Appl Radiat Isot 67:839–842

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Rottger A, Honig A, Dersch R et al (2010) A primary standard for activity concentration of 220Rn (thoron) in air. Appl Radiat Isot 68(7–8):1292–1296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Kobayashi Y, Tokonami S, Takahashi H, Zhuo WH et al (2005) Practicality of the thoron calibration chamber system at NIRS, Japan. In: International congress serie, pp 281–282

  5. Sorimachi A, Ishikawa T, Tokonami S (2014) Development of an aerosol chamber for calibration of 220Rn progeny detectors. Rev Sci Instrum 85(9):095104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Zhao C (2014) Methods for the Calibration and Measurements of Thoron Concentrations. Fudan University, Yangpu (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Zhao C, Zhuo W, Chen B et al (2010) Characteristic and performance of a simple thoron chamber. Radiat Prot Dosim 141(4):444–447

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Xiao D, Ling Q, Pan Z et al (2002) A simple 220Rn chamber for the calibration of passive and integrated 220Rn dosimeter. At Energy Sci Technol 36(1):89–92

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Xiao D, Zhou J, Qiu S (2012) The research on the measurement and calibration of thoron and its daughters. In: Progress report on nuclear science and technology in China, vol 2. Proceedings of academic annual meeting of China Nuclear Society in 2011, No. 5-radiation protection sub-volume

  10. He Z (2014) Study on technology of regulating and controlling 220Rn daughter in 220Rn chamber. University of South China, Hengyang (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Qiu S (2006) Calibration of a 220Rn flow-through source. Radiat Environ Biophys 45(3):215–220

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Cheng YS, Chen TR, Yeh HC et al (2000) Intercomparison of activity size distribution of thoron progeny and a mixture of radon and thoron progeny. J Environ Radioact 51(1):59–78

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. He Z, Xiao D, Lv L, Zhou Q, Xijun W, Shan J (2017) Stable control of thoron progeny concentration in a thoron chamber for calibration of active sampling monitors. Radiat Meas 102:27–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kang X, Xiao D, Li J (2008) The research on the measurement and calibration of thoron and its daughters. Nucl Technol 31(12):926–930

    Google Scholar 

  15. Zhou Q, Zhao G, Xiao D (2009) Alpha spectrum superposition method for measuring radon and thoron progenies in air. Nucl Technol 32(06):164–168

    Google Scholar 

  16. Porstendörfer J (1984) Behaviour of radon daughter products in indoor air. Radiat Prot Dosim 7(1–4):107–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Porstendöfer J (1994) Properties and behaviour of radon and thoron and their decay products in the air. Aerosol Sci 25(2):219–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Mercer T (1976) The effect of particle size on the escape of recoiling Ra B atoms from particulate surfaces. Health Phys 31:170–175

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, 28 Changshengxi Rd, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China

    Weiwei Li, Qingzhi Zhou, Zhengzhong He, Guiyuan Li & Wei Liu

Authors
  1. Weiwei Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Qingzhi Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhengzhong He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Guiyuan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wei Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qingzhi Zhou.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, W., Zhou, Q., He, Z. et al. Optimization of the thoron progeny compensation system of a thoron calibration chamber. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 324, 1255–1263 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07180-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07180-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation