Pipeline Radionuclide Identification and Mapping (PRIAM) System

The Department of Energy (DOE) is interested in innovative research involving fiber-optic radiation detectors and associated signal processing electronics for the identification of specific radioisotopes. Specifically, the DOE is keenly interested in new fiber-optic instrumentation to be used to detect, identify, and measure ionizing radiation produced by radionuclides trapped in decomissioned steel and stainless steel process piping between and 6 inner diameter at gaseous diffusion plants. Current instrumentation does not exist which can carry out the required interior pipeline measurements. The overall approach proposed is to apply existing materials and signal processing technology to the problem using a unique combination of innovative techniques derived from other fields of research such as medical imaging and high-energy physics. The proposed technology merges the flexible fiber-optic nature of the detector with ultra-sensitive readout technology in a rugged, field-ready package. In Phase I a laboratory benchtop prototype of the portable radionuclide mapping and classification detector and electronic read-out system will be designed, simulated, fabricated, and tested. It will be benchmarked against current analytical tools to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Fiber-optic detectors are rapidly finding mainstream uses in a wide range of applications due to their cost benefits, minimal size, insensitivity to electromagnetic interference, and ability to transmit information long distances. Aerospace, defense, health care, research, security, and a wide range of other industrial settings all depend on carefully monitored radioactivity levels and presence of specific radioisotopes. The PRIAM system is ideally suited to field radiation monitoring applications in these areas as a low-cost, rugged, large area automated detector and identifier of radioisotopes. Waste management, surveillance, decontamination processes, research systems, defense, and power related industries are all potential benefactors of the very flexible and modular PRIAM design