Wearable High-Resolution Spectroscopic Devices for Passive Source Term Characterization

The commercial nuclear power fleet, supported by the Department of Energy, has a need to accurately characterize its source term. This is critical for minimizing dose, and cost, associated with work in the plant. There are many devices that can provide personnel dosimetry, but these devices do not provide isotopic quantification and typically do not take advantage of situational awareness technology. By recording the isotopic quantities as a function of location within the plant over time it is much cheaper and easier for a facility to conduct work planning and to understand the factors that are affecting their source term. This proposal aims to address this need by creating an instrument that is similar to an electronic dosimeter in form factor and weight but provides location and high quality spectral data as a function of time. These devices will push data into a database that tracks their measurements of spectra and positions as users wear them around a nuclear plant during regular work. This will simultaneously improve the quality of survey data while reducing the financial burden associated with gathering the data. The phase I effort will be focused on developing a plan to combine the CZT sensors into the smallest possible package with additional sensors to provide spatial information. A design concept for a next generation device will be proposed but there will not be time or budget to actually build it in this phase. Investigation of the impact of eliminating cooling capability will be assessed. The commercial benefits of this effort will be realized throughout the commercial nuclear industry. The most significant benefits will be realized on the second outage the technology is used for. During the first fuel change the industry will get a bunch of new measurements and then they can spend the next 18 months using that information to prepare for a more effective outage next time.They will be able to more effectively select shielding and work plans to maximize their financial benefit.