Radiation monitoring systems, radioactive material storage systems and associated components and methods
A radiation monitoring system includes an optical fiber. The system further includes a scintillating fiber operatively coupled to a first end of the optical fiber at a first end of the scintillating fiber. The system also includes a damage detection device configured to detect damage to at least one of the optical fiber and the scintillating fiber.
1 . A radiation monitoring system comprising:
an optical fiber;
a scintillating fiber operatively coupled to a first end of the optical fiber at a first end of the scintillating fiber; and
a damage detection device configured to detect damage to at least one of the optical fiber and the scintillating fiber, the damage detection device comprising:
a signal generation device configured to generate a signal in the optical fiber and/or the scintillating fiber; and
a receiver configured to receive a reflection of the signal.
2 . The radiation monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the damage detection device comprises a reflective element positioned on a second end of the scintillating fiber opposite the first end of the scintillating fiber.
3 . The radiation monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the signal generation device is positioned on a second end of the optical fiber opposite the first end of the optical fiber.
4 . The radiation monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein the signal generation device comprises a pulsed light source.
5 . The radiation monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a monitoring module coupled to a second end of the optical fiber opposite the first end of the optical fiber.
6 . The radiation monitoring system of claim 5 , wherein the optical fiber is configured to transfer light from the scintillating fiber to the monitoring module.
7 . The radiation monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the optical fiber is disposed in a protective tube configured to substantially prevent a transmission of photons into or out of the optical fiber.
8 . The radiation monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the scintillating fiber has a length of up to about 10 meters.
9 . The radiation monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber has a length in a kilometer scale.
10 . The radiation monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the scintillating fiber is operatively coupled to the optical fiber through a coupler configured to physically couple and optically couple the scintillating fiber to the optical fiber.
11 . A radioactive material storage system comprising:
a storage tunnel;
a storage area proximal to the storage tunnel;
a canister configured to contain radioactive material disposed in the storage area; and
a radiation sensor at least partially disposed in the storage area, the radiation sensor comprising:
a first segment comprising a scintillating fiber, the first segment positioned along a side surface of the canister;
a second segment comprising an optical fiber coupled between the scintillating fiber and a monitoring module; and
the monitoring module positioned in an accessible region a distance from the storage tunnel.
12 . The radioactive material storage system of claim 11 , further comprising a vibration sensor positioned in the storage tunnel.
13 . The radioactive material storage system of claim 11 , further comprising a tamper sensor positioned in the storage tunnel.
14 . The radioactive material storage system of claim 11 , further comprising a monitoring station configured to receive data from the monitoring module of the radiation sensor.
15 . The radioactive material storage system of claim 11 , wherein the first segment of the radiation sensor has a length of up to about 15 meters.
16 . The radioactive material storage system of claim 11 , wherein the second segment has a length of up to about 3 , 000 meters.
17 . The radioactive material storage system of claim 11 , wherein the monitoring module is positioned in a surface facility of the radioactive material storage system.
18 . The radioactive material storage system of claim 11 , wherein the monitoring module is positioned in an access tunnel of the radioactive material storage system.
19 . A method of monitoring a radiation detector, the method comprising:
transmitting a light signal into a first end of an optical fiber;
receiving the light signal in a first end of a scintillating optical fiber positioned at a second end of the optical fiber opposite the first end of the optical fiber;
reflecting the light signal from a reflective element positioned on a second end of the scintillating optical fiber opposite the first end of the scintillating optical fiber;
receiving the light signal at the first end of the optical fiber; and
determining if the radiation detector is damaged if the light signal is not received at the first end of the optical fiber.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein transmitting the light signal comprises pulsing a light into the first end of the optical fiber.