High radiation environment tunnel monitoring system and method
View Patent ↗In accordance with the principles of the present invention utilizing a first radiation monitoring module, radiation information associated with the first radiation monitoring module within a tunnel is wirelessly transmitted to a second radiation monitoring module. The second radiation monitoring module is able to receive radiation information from the first radiation monitoring module for relay of the received radiation information to a central monitoring system. The radiation monitoring modules of the present invention allow long term monitoring of a tunnel's radiation levels with maintenance simply requiring replacement of a non-operational tunnel monitoring module by a robot.
1. A radiation monitoring module, comprising:
a mount to mount a first radiation monitoring module within a storage tunnel;
a radiation detector to detect radiation within a proximate vicinity of said first radiation monitoring module with said storage tunnel; and
a wireless transmitter to wireless communicate said detected radiation with a second radiation monitoring module within said storage tunnel;
wherein said radiation detector is comprised of a serpentine RF port to allow fore and aft communications while exposing shielded radiation detectors to said proximate vicinity.
2. The radiation monitoring module according to claim 1 , wherein:
said serpentine RF port is comprised of vanes on a downwind port to create a slight vacuum to improve an air draw across shielded radiation detectors.
3. The radiation monitoring module according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a redundant battery system.
4. The radiation monitoring module according to claim 1 , wherein:
said wireless transmitter is a piconet transceiver.
5. The radiation monitoring module according to claim 1 , wherein:
said wireless transmitter is operable in a low power mode and a high power mode.
6. The radiation monitoring module according to claim 1 , wherein:
said radiation monitoring module is able to communicate with a third radiation monitoring module further away from said first radiation monitoring module than said second radiation monitoring module.
7. The radiation monitoring module according to claim 1 , wherein:
said wireless transmitter is an infrared transmitter.
8. The radiation monitoring module according to claim 1 , wherein:
said wireless transmitter is adapted to communicate with a scatternet.
9. A method of monitoring radiation within a tunnel, comprising:
mounting a first radiation monitoring module within a storage tunnel;
determining a radiation value within a proximate vicinity of a first radiation monitoring module within said storage tunnel;
establishing a wireless communication link between said first radiation monitoring module and a second radiation monitoring module within said storage tunnel; and
transmitting said radiation information over said wireless communication link between said first radiation monitoring module and said second radiation module;
wherein said first radiation monitoring module and said radiation monitoring module comprise a serpentine RF port to allow fore and aft communications while exposing shielded radiation detectors to said proximate vicinity.
10. The method of monitoring radiation within a tunnel according to claim 9 , wherein:
said serpentine RF port is comprised of vanes on a downwind port to create a slight vacuum to improve an air draw across shielded radiation detectors.
11. The method of monitoring radiation within a tunnel according to claim 9 , further comprising:
periodically transmitting status information related to said first radiation monitoring module to said second radiation monitoring module.
12. The method of monitoring radiation within a tunnel according to claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving at said first radiation monitoring module at least one of a status information and a radiation information from at least one of said second radiation monitoring module and a third radiation monitoring module; and
transmitting said radiation information from said first radiation monitoring module to a central monitoring subsystem.
13. The method of monitoring radiation within a tunnel according to claim 9 , wherein:
said wireless communication link is a piconet communication link.
14. The method of monitoring radiation within a tunnel according to claim 9 , wherein:
said wireless communication link is an infrared communication link.
15. Apparatus for monitoring radiation within a tunnel, comprising:
means for mounting a first radiation monitoring module within a storage tunnel;
means for determining a radiation value within a proximate vicinity of a first radiation monitoring module within said storage tunnel;
means for establishing a wireless communication link between said first radiation monitoring module and a second radiation monitoring module within said storage tunnel; and
means for transmitting said radiation information over said wireless communication link between said first radiation monitoring module and said second radiation module;
wherein said first radiation monitoring module and said radiation monitoring module comprise a serpentine RF port to allow fore and aft communications while exposing shielded radiation detectors to said proximate vicinity.
16. The apparatus for monitoring radiation within a tunnel according to claim 15 , wherein:
said serpentine RF port is comprised of vanes on a downwind port to create a slight vacuum to improve an air draw across shielded radiation detectors.
17. The apparatus for monitoring radiation within a tunnel according to claim 15 , further comprising:
means for periodically transmitting status information related to said first radiation monitoring module to said second radiation monitoring module.
18. The apparatus for monitoring radiation within a tunnel according to claim 15 , further comprising:
means for receiving at said first radiation monitoring module at least one of a status information and a radiation information from at least one of said second radiation monitoring module and a third radiation monitoring module; and
means for transmitting said radiation information from said first radiation monitoring module to a central monitoring subsystem.
19. The apparatus for monitoring radiation within a tunnel according to claim 15 , wherein:
said wireless communication link is a piconet communication link.
20. The apparatus for monitoring radiation within a tunnel according to claim 15 , wherein:
said wireless communication link is an infrared communication link.