Passive Electrostatic Precipitator Device for Radionuclide Monitoring Systems

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty has been in effect among 177 nations since 1996. Despite lacking ratification by the United Nations, signatories have deployed the International Monitoring System (IMS) to detect and track nuclear detonations. The IMS employs 80 radionuclide monitoring stations to filter air samples and detect traces of radioactive materials. To advance radionuclide monitoring systems, GVD proposes demonstrating the feasibility of fabricating a passive electrostatic precipitator (ESP) device using iCVD PTFE electret coatings. The passive electret reduces weight and power consumption, allowing for future development of a mobile detector platform. The technical objectives of the project involve maximizing the surface potential of iCVD PTFE electret coatings, designing and evaluating the capture efficiency of electret - ESP test cells, designing a concept for implementation, and testing commercially available filter media with iCVD PTFE electret coatings. The expected outcome is the development of electret coatings that enhance filter efficiency, while maintaining low pressure drop, leading to improved detection capabilities for low yield nuclear detonations and enabling widespread deployment of mobile radionuclide detectors. To deliver a proven concept meeting the criteria set by the DoE, GVD will leverage the expertise of multiple entities. XIA, an organization dedicated to radiation signal processing and detection, and ARE Labs, which specializes in aerosol testing and analysis, will collaborate with GVD to achieve the goals and tasks set for Phase I. GVD's team includes experienced engineers and scientists with in-depth knowledge in chemical vapor deposition, materials science, and manufacturing processes. GVD has successfully developed several production processes for iCVD PTFE coating technologies. Experience in both R&D and production will enable us to develop and evaluate the electret coating while also addressing key manufacturing concerns for long-term production stability outside the scope of this Phase I.