Diseño, construcción e implementación de un sistema de detección y monitoreo de radiación ionizante para el laboratorio de Física Nuclear de la ESPOCH.

Abstract

The objective of this research work was to design, build and implement a detection and monitoring system of ionizing radiation for the Nuclear Techniques Laboratory, due to there is currently no a system that allows us to maintain a personnel radiation dose register for the application of radiological protection. The state of the laboratory was evaluated in the design of the System, considering its facilities, equipment and instruments as well as the radioactive sources. There are two elements of the detection system for the construction: first, radiation detector assembly 1.0 in the Nuclear Techniques Laboratory, second the preparation of electronic spreadsheet and finally the implementation of the system. The characterization and classification of the radioactive sources according to their levels of exemption in order to know how many of these should be under the control of the regulatory authority was one of the points to be analyzed. Two laboratory practices were carried out to determine the background radiation in the Nuclear Techniques Laboratory with a dose rate of 0.085 microsievert/h and the annual dose rate of 0.711 microsievert /h. With the second practice, the dose rate was obtained when working with beta, gamma and positron sources at different distances; the dose rate at a distance of 25 cm with the beta source is 1,289 microsievert /year, with the gamma source is 4,076 microsievert /year and with the positrons source is 0.372 microsievert /year. By using these values, the work area and the space that is destined to store the sources were classified as the Controlled Area, and as a monitored area to the rest of the facilities. In addition, workers who work in controlled areas have a Category A designation.