December 1, 2009
Journal Article

Design, construction, and use of a shipping case for radioactive sources used in the calibration of portal monitors in the radiation portal monitoring project

Abstract

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is working with US Customs and Border Protection to assist in the installation of radiation portal monitors. We need to provide radioactive sources – both gamma- and neutron-emitting – to ports of entry where the monitors are being installed. The monitors must be calibrated to verify proper operation and detection sensitivity. We designed a portable source-shipping case using numerical modeling to predict the neutron dose rate at the case’s surface. The shipping case including radioactive sources meets the DOT requirements for “limited quantity.” Over 300 shipments, domestic and international, were made in FY2008 using this type of shipping case.

Revised: February 3, 2010 | Published: December 1, 2009

Citation

Lepel E.A., and W.K. Hensley. 2009. Design, construction, and use of a shipping case for radioactive sources used in the calibration of portal monitors in the radiation portal monitoring project. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 282, no. 3:861-864. PNNL-SA-65661. doi:10.1007/s10967-009-0299-9