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.3 dac fraction
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wlrun3@aol.com:
...i was recently asked, given an air sample volume and the concept of minimum detectable activity, how a field check of an air sample filter patch with a standard frisker can determine less than .3 dac fraction...
...what is the methodology supporting the graphs used in making these air sample field check determinations...
RRhoads:
So, i take it you never calc'd an air sample activity on the NUF exam??
The basics look something like this;
NCPM/vol(eff.)2.22 E6(1000 for liters or 28320 for CFM)
Seeing that a windows PC seems to to never be too far away anymore, using a PC calculator in the SCI mode, this can usuall be done in the field, least at the plant i work at.
::)
G-reg:
You're going to have to make an initial assumption regarding your most limiting isotope. Since I am working at a power RX, I'm going to assume that our limiting isotope here is 60Co (based on its abundance in the plant, and its restrictive DAC value).
From 10CFR20 Appx B Table 1, 60Co has a DAC value of 1E-8 mCi/ml. (I'm using Class Y, which I base on an assumed chemical composition for our assumed 60Co isotope.) Bear with me, we're almost done with our assumptions.
Since we have determined that DAC = 1E-8 mCi/ml, then 0.3DAC =
[0.3][1E-8 mCi/ml] = 3E-9 mCi/ml
The next step is to convert mCi to dpm:
[3E-9 mCi][2.2E6 dpm] = 6.6E-3 dpm/ml
[ ml ][ 1 mCi ]
Then, for use with our field instruments, we need to convert dpm into ccpm. I'll use a detector efficiency of 10%, which is typical of E-140N and L-177 field instruments.
[6.6E-3 dpm][0.10 ccpm] = 6.6E-4 ccpm/ml
[ 1 dpm ]
Most field air samplers measure sample volume in either cubic feet or liters. Where I work, the 'standard' air sample volume is 18ft3. So 0.3DAC on an 18ft3 air sample works out to be:
[6.6E-4 ccpm][28300 ml][18 ft3] = 336 ccpm
[ ml ][ ft3 ]
Therefore, as a simplified rule of thumb:
If a field check on a standard (18ft3) PAS shows >300 ccpm, you're over 0.3 DAC.
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