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A simple design concept for elimination of the impact of humidity on radon measurements using electrostatic collection

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Abstract

The detection efficiency of electrostatic collection radon monitors is influenced by the humidity of the air in the collection cell. This is due to the recombination of positively charged 218Po with OH− ions, whose concentration depends on humidity. A novel design of an electrostatic collection cell, in which the air pressure in the cell is less than the atmospheric pressure, is proposed to eliminate the impact of humidity. As a result of the lower air pressure, the drift velocity of the positively charged 218Po in the electric field increases, so the collection time decreases. A model predicting the collection efficiency of positively charged 218Po in this kind of electrostatic collection cell is presented. Based on the model, if the air pressure in the cell is sufficiently low, the collection efficiency will be approximately a constant and the dependency of the collection efficiency of the positively charged 218Po upon the water vapor concentration can be ignored. This approach can be applied to develop a new radon monitor.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 11075049, 11375058), the Excellent Talents Program of Hengyang Normal University of China, Cooperative Innovation Center for Digitalization of Cultural Heritage in Ancient Villages and Towns and the Construct Program of the Key Discipline in Hunan province.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang City, 421008, Hunan Province, China

    Yanliang Tan

  2. School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China

    Detao Xiao, Qingzhi Zhou, Quan Tang & Jian Shan

  3. Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2104, USA

    Kimberlee Kearfott

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  1. Yanliang Tan
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  2. Detao Xiao
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  3. Qingzhi Zhou
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  4. Quan Tang
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  5. Jian Shan
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  6. Kimberlee Kearfott
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Correspondence to Yanliang Tan.

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Tan, Y., Xiao, D., Zhou, Q. et al. A simple design concept for elimination of the impact of humidity on radon measurements using electrostatic collection. Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess 30, 2303–2308 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-015-1148-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-015-1148-8

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