Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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Fundamental approach to development of plastic scintillator system for in situ groundwater beta monitoring

  • Lee, UkJae (Nuclear Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology) ;
  • Choi, Woo Nyun (Nuclear Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology) ;
  • Bae, Jun Woo (Nuclear Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology) ;
  • Kim, Hee Reyoung (Nuclear Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology)
  • Received : 2018.12.18
  • Accepted : 2019.05.03
  • Published : 2019.10.25
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Abstract

The performance of a plastic scintillator for use in an in situ measurement system was analyzed using simulation and experimental methods. The experimental results of four major pure beta-emitting radionuclides, namely $^3H$, $^{14}C$, $^{32}P$, and $^{90}Sr/^{90}Y$, were compared with those obtained using a Monte Carlo N-particle (MCNP) code simulation. The MCNP simulation and experimental results demonstrated good agreement for $^{32}P$ and $^{90}Sr/^{90}Y$, with a relative difference of 1.95% and 0.43% between experimental and simulation efficiencies for $^{32}P$ and $^{90}Sr/^{90}Y$, respectively. However, owing to the short range of beta particles in water, the efficiency for $^{14}C$ was extremely low, and $^3H$ could not be detected. To directly measure the low-energy beta radionuclides considering their short range, a system where the source could flow directly to the scintillator was developed. The optimal thickness of the plastic scintillator was determined based on the suggested diameter. Results showed that the detection efficiency decreases with an increase in the depth of the water. The detection efficiency decreased drastically to approximately 10 cm, and the tendency was gradually constant.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : National Research Foundation of Korea

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