Tech Briefs
Savannah River National Laboratory
RadRope™:
Portable Nuclear Material Detection System
Background
This lightweight, portable system can rapidly detect the presence of nuclear materials in sealed containers without the use of harmful x-rays. Using sensors arrayed linearly and encased in fabric, the RadRope™ system can be dangled in the 2- to 4-inch gap between stacked shipping containers on a cargo ship by a customs inspector. As the inspector walks along the top containers, a hand-held PDA shows an alarm when any sensor in the array detects radiation levels above background radiation. The RadRope™ system has been beta-tested for the U.S. Coast Guard on ships entering port in Charleston, S.C.
At a glance
- Portable
- Easily used by one person
- Detects gamma and neutron radiation
- Quickly covers large area
- U.S. Patent 7,351,982
Simple design
Geiger Muller tubes comprise the sensor nodes. Many independently operated sensor nodes can be strung together in any length. Analog-to-digital converters attached to each sensor send data to the PDA, or to a CPU. A user interface receives and displays the data. The Geiger Muller tubes can be configured to detect both gamma and neutron radiation.
Stage of development
This technology is in early stage research and development with ongoing testing and experimentation underway. Early tests have demonstrated that cooling towers can be exploited as constant running, passive environmental collectors for the monitoring and detection of biological, radionuclide and chemical agents. Research to date has also identified additional methods for improving detection levels. A patent has been filed with the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Partnering Opportunities
SRNL invites interested companies with proven capabilities in this area of expertise to develop commercial applications for this process or product under a cooperative research and development agreement or licensing agreement. Interested companies will be requested to submit a business plan setting forth company qualifications, strategies, activities, and milestones for commercializing this invention. Qualifications should include past experience at bringing similar products to market, reasonable schedule for product launch, sufficient manufacturing capacity, established distribution networks, and evidence of sufficient financial resources for product development and launch.
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Contact Information
Savannah River National Laboratory
E-mail: partnerships@srnl.doe.gov