Syclone Portable Gamma-Ray Spectrometer User Manual
Contents
1. SETUP PARAMETER DEFAULT SELECTION MENU SEARCH DATA TRANSFER OFF OFF MEM PC SPAN TIME 1 1 2 3 10 20 30 60 secs GRAPH SCALE AUTO AUTO 64 128 256 512 1K 2K 4K 8K 16K 32K 64K 128K 256K 512K 1M 2M 4M 8M 16M 32M 64M 128M 256M 512M 1G 2G 4G cps AUDIO SCALER AUTO OFF AUTO 50 100 150 200 250cps ALARM THRESHOLD OFF OFF 100 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 600 700 1K 2K 5K 9Kcps SELECT ROI TOTAL TOTAL ROI1 ROI2 ROI3 ROI4 AVERAGING 3P OFF 3P 5P 10P STABILIZE STAB MODE 24H OFF 12H 24H AUTO ISOTOPE Cs 137 IDENTIFY DETECTOR DETECTOR Nal Nal PILEUP ON ON OFF PEAK THRESHOLD 3 0 2 0 2 5 3 0 3 5 4 0 4 5 5 0 BASE DOSE THRES 20 10 15 20 30 40 50 uR h units NUCLIDE THRES 7 3 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 SD units Nal MEASURING TIME 55 10 50 55 60 100 200 600 1200 1800 3600 5400secs MEASURING MODE CLOCK LIVE CLOCK REP AUDIO ALERT ON ON OFF ALARM THRESHOLD 3 OFF 1 2 10 20 50 100 NEUTRON SPAN TIME 1 1 2 10 15 20 50 100 DOSE UNIT SV R SV GY SPAN TIME 1 1 2 10 20 60secs AVERAGING 3P OFF 3P 5P 10P ALARM THRESHOLD 50 OFF 10 20 50 100 200 500 1000 2000 4000 5000 9000 uR h LINKED TO Units ROIs ROI 1 15 30 0 1023 to 0 1023 Am 241 ROI 2 210 230 0 1023 to 0 1023 Cs 137 ROI 3 320 470 0 1023 to 0 1023 Co 60 ROI 4 840 900 0 1023 to 0 1023 Th 232 AaBbCc LANGUAGE ENG2. The Navigation Menus are located on the right for the SEARCH function and across the bottom of the screens in the Identify and Nuclide Identify with the joystick functions described below SEARCH Navigation Menu rap no action Tt OFF approx 4 secs then unit powers OFF 4 NUCID switches to the IDENTIFY and NUCLIDE IDENTIFY functions IDENTIFY Navigation Menu gt no action Tt OFF approx 4 secs then unit powers OFF 4 STOP stops the IDENTIFY sample NUCLIDE IDENTIFY Navigation Menu 2MIN initiates an additional 2 minute count that adds to the current spectrum and at the end of the period gives a combined analysis t OFF approx 4 secs then unit powers OFF 4 SRCH switches to the SEARCH Left click toggles between S N and H L half life RadComm Proprietary Page 12 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 3 0 AUTOMATIC MODE OPERATION 3 2 STARTUP DISPLAYS Pull the joystick down to turn the unit ON and various displays are seen a STARTUP this display appears for only a few seconds see Figure Data shown as follows SYCLONE instrument name VERSION 1 0 the firmware version in the unit AUTOMATIC MODE ACTIVE shows the unit is in the AUTOMATIC Mode of operation b Initialization and Testing After the system is turned on system Initialization will proceed for a few seconds The unit is carrying out internal testing
3. RadComm Proprietary Page 7 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 2 0 DETAILED OPERATION GUIDE AUTOMATIC or SIMPLIFIED MODE with the joystick AUTOMATIC MODE This mode was designed to allow for fast and easy inspection of areas containers or vehicles that may contain radioactive materials This mode provides SEARCH and Identify capabilities which allows the User to collect large amounts of data which is then transferred to the PC for analysis This mode is also used by scientists to quickly identify and locate potentially hazardous radioactive sources for immediate investigation SIMPLIFIED MODE The Simplified Mode is easy to use and is very suitable for rapid SEARCH and detection of Gamma Ray emitting radioactive sources in suspect vehicles and containers The unit will store any detected spectra for further analysis the user can download the samples to the PC using the supplied USB cable See Chapter 4 0 for more information MANUAL MODE This Mode is available to qualified technicians in order to setup the equipment and change the operating parameter s to suit the users application s This mode is also useful to the scientist to acquire data identify and analyze conditions in the field For further information refer to the Syclone Service Manual 2 5 STABILIZATION When any spectrometer is turned ON the internal electronic components exhibit some level of warm up drif
4. 4 SRCH initiates a new SEARCH Left click toggles between S N and H L half life Note Samples are saved to the Syclone memory each time a spectra is found to be later uploaded to a PC using the USB cable provided RadComm Proprietary Page 19 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 5 0 SYCLONE SPECIFICATIONS 5 0 SYCLONE SPECIFICATIONS Note System Specifications are subject to change without notice DETECTORS GAMMA Detector a Gamma Nal Size 1 5 38mm x 2 51mm Energy Resolution 7 0 or better for 662 KeV b Geiger Mueller Size 0 59 15mm x 1 9 49mm Stabilization Cs 137 source lt 3 mins DOSEMETER Accumulate dose up to 10 Sv Span time 1 2 3 10 20 30 60s Measurement Units Selectable R Sv Gy Energy Range 20keV 3 0MeV Dose Range Nal Detector OuR h 4mR h OnSv h 40uSv h GM Detector 4mR h 1R h 40uSv h 10mSv h calibrated Extended Range 1R h 10R h 10mSv h 100mSv h verified Note Nal detector may overload at higher levels at a different rate depending on the isotope Approximate maximum levels are 2mR h for Am 241 and 5mRP h for Cs 137 NUCLIDE LIBRARIES Pre defined Standard and Medical Industrial libraries will be available soon CLOCK CALENDAR Type Built in 24 hour clock 99 year calendar including leap year Full battery backup 10 year retention time Precision
5. Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer User Manual April 2 2013 Revision 4 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 Revision History Revision Date ECO Description 1 June 25 2012 N A Released 2 August 30 2012 635 Add minor changes 3 November 22 2012 655 Add minor changes Remove RadView software description 4 April 2 2013 685 Minor changes Product Manual Disclaimers Due to our efforts to continuously improve this product specifications dimensions operating features and procedures described in this manual are subject to frequent changes The printed version of this manual reflects only the configuration current at the time of printing The most current version of the manual is provided in electronic format on the Product Support CD supplied with the instrument Please refer to the electronic version of the manual for the most accurate interpretation Contact RadComm Radiation Detection Systems at www radcommsystems com CONFIDENTIAL DISCLOSURE USERS ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THIS MANUAL CONTAINS TECHNICAL INFORMATION OF A PROPRIETARY NATURE THIS INFORMATION IS NECESSARY FOR TECHNICALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE USERS TO UNDERSTAND SYSTEM OPERATION AND TO SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT THE SYSTEM IS PERFORMING CORRECTLY RADCOMM ACCEPTS THAT IT IS THE RIGHT OF SUCH USERS TO BE PRIVY TO THIS INFORMATION HOWEVER THIS DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED SOLELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF OWNERS OF THE S
6. Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 1 0 GENERAL SYSTEM DESCRIPTION 1 0 GENERAL SYSTEM DESCRIPTION The Syclone Gamma Ray Portable Spectrometer represents a major breakthrough in the field of radiation monitoring offering the user not only the ability to search for and locate radioactive material but also to automatically identify the radioactive nuclides present This capability in a fully portable hand held unit will permit its use in a wide variety of applications including e Hazard identification and risk assessment e Inspection of incoming and outgoing material for radioactive contamination D Inspection of radioactive gauges for leaks e SEARCH of waste sites for radioactive material e Employee exposure rate and dose monitoring e Radioactive source monitoring e Government inspection for material compliance D Identification of unknown radioactive material e Regulatory control of radioactive material e Classification of radioactive material for a wide variety of users 1 1 SYCLONE HARDWARE Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer is a highly sensitive and responsive unit which utilizes the highest quality Thallium doped Nal crystal combined with an integral high signal to noise ratio PMT state of the art electronics and embedded microcontroller firmware The Syclone portable radiation detector has been designed to detect find and identify specific and or multiple isotopes from radioactive materials ev
7. 3 s day at 25 C 30 s day over full operating temperature range DATA STORAGE Type Flash memory Capacity 100 000 dose rate samples 498 Spectra Stored Data Retrieval Via USB to a PC DATA OUTPUT Type USB RadComm Proprietary Page 20 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 5 0 SYCLONE SPECIFICATIONS Format Binary data in packets USER INTERFACE Control Single Multifunction Joystick All functions and features Display Type TFT Color LCD QVGA 320 x 240 resolution Display Viewing Area 3 5 Diagonal Menus Screens English Chinese Japanese Spanish German POWER Adapter Voltage 12VDC Range 7 30 VDC Consumption Measurement 2 73W Internal Source Rechargeable Batteries Manufacturers Lithium Battery Capacity 4800mAh 3 7V Operating Time Rechargeable batteries around 7 hours Battery Charging typically 4 hours full charge indication by Battery Icon CONNECTORS External Power Supply 2 5mm power circular jack on the center pin Mating connector 2 5mm power circular plug COMM Port mini USB PHYSICAL Dimensions Length 7 75 197mm Width 3 5 89mm Height 3 76mm 5 59 142mm including handle Weight 1 7 kg 3 7lbs including batteries ENVIRONMENTAL Operating Temperature Range 4 F to 140 F 20 C to 60 C Storage Temperature Range 4 F to 140 F 20 C to 60 C Protection Weatherproof du
8. AUTOMATIC MODERNER 13 BC SEARCH yc cceis vie cde iiwcncd varecates vane vied tena bind te nu yeas canabiau ens viwavenrtanvvacznends 13 Bagel HIGH DOSE E 14 3 12 NEUTRON ALARM EE 15 KE ctw BL ah GE 15 33 3 TE 16 3 4 POWER OFF MANUAL sess egeggeg eeegeggegeee gege EENEG semebent 17 3 5 GAR ERR E E E E fanz Ghee Saaehenisaqcenesases cei 17 3 6 CALIBRATION REQUIRED EE 17 4 0 SIMPLIFIED MODE OPERATION sssssnsunsensnunuununnnunnuununnnunnnnnnunnunnnnnnunnnnnnnnnnnnennnnnnnnn ennen 18 4 1 STARTUP DISPLAY S siscactisiccntezeizcngsettnentse tive nivets wands nia oia dn 18 4 2 SYSTEM USE SIMPLIFIED MODE AANEREN 19 5 0 SYCLONE SPECIFICATIONS ic vvsaesceisesscetutsdavectesssentensecaastsacsstsceagussevaceseustscecacrscsstracurester 20 APPENDIX A USING ISOTOPE LIBRARIES cccssecsssssesseesseeessessenssseenseeeseeseensnenensaees 23 APPENDIX B NUCLIDE LIBRARIES iscnisisccscnsciuinsanesiadendciessuiacunatestudedanecasdeneecenucesaneunaaduacave 24 APPENDIX C RECOMMENDED PARAMETER cscccsssseeesseessersseessseeeseeeseesseeenenensaees 26 APPENDIX D QUICK START AUTOMATIC MODE cccccsssesseeesessteeseessoeeeeeeneeensees 27 APPENDIX E SAFE HANDLING OF CHECK SOURCES cccccecsssnesessteesseseneeseeenenensees 30 APPENDIX Z WARRANT Y teissocsiscscssencssesnsnsusssesecssasseatessnacessaaeseatccsennccsinadiasetenesccessanacsieneareee 31 RadComm Proprietary Page iii Revision Date April 2 2013
9. and clicking ENTER to activate the selection When the system is turned ON user can use the system after 2 minute warm up time For the best performance please let the system warm up for 15 to 20 minutes POWER OFF MANUAL To power the unit OFF CLICK UP away from the user and hold for approx 4 seconds The display see Figure shows the seconds counting down 3 2 1 After this countdown the unit powers OFF At any time during the countdown releasing the JOYSTICK will cancel the power OFF LOW BATTERY WARNINGS The Battery ICON at the top right of the display is used to provide the user with an idea of the current battery status To provide some level of warning of imminent battery life if the batteries fall below a certain level then an audio warning occurs and the Battery ICON flashes for immediate attention The user has approximately 30 minutes of measuring time left in the battery at this time When there is no longer enough power to allow measuring the Syclone turns OFF Full Charge 1 3 Charge Low Battery Warning Flashing Figure 2 2 2 3 SWITCHING SYCLONE OPERATIONAL MODES The unit can be set to either the AUTOMATIC SIMPLIFIED or MANUAL Mode s at any time Selection between modes is performed from the Mode selection screen The User makes the selection with the joystick when the cover page appears the User holds down the joystick to see the Mode selection screen The User then chooses between MANUAL
10. manner listening for an audio tone and when practical glancing at the display for evidence of a source The system display will show the current count rate in counts sec while the internal audio meter will give an audio response with the tone related to radiation intensity b When radioactivity is detected the Syclone emits an audio tone that rises in pitch the closer it gets to the source C When the user finds the location of the source peak of the audio tone IDENTIFY is selected by short click down with the joystick to analyze a spectrum sample 3 The IDENTIFY function of operation see Figure G 1 IDENTIFY takes a spectrum sample for a user defined sample time default 55s as follows a To geta good sample position the Syclone at the highest point of radioactivity found by SEARCH or follow the MOVE CLOSER MOVE AWAY instructions b Keep the Syclone as stable as possible during sampling to get a good result RadComm Proprietary Page 27 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 APPENDIX D QUICK START AUTOMATIC MODE AUDIO TONE I AUDIO BEEP if Audio PITCH INCREASES Alert is set to a CLOSER TO SOURCE Figure G 1 c After the sample time is complete the system automatically analyzes the data to determine the Isotope and displays the results in the NUCLIDE IDENTIFY screen d When the NUCLIDE IDENT Result see Figure G 1 is displayed th
11. to verify that components are functioning correctly If errors are found an audio beep will be heard 3 3 SYSTEM USE AUTOMATIC MODE The Syclone in the AUTOMATIC Mode operates in 2 functions SEARCH and IDENTIFY SEARCH is used to search and locate radioactive material in vehicles packages or on people etc The user can easily scan the suspect item and look for a significant increase in radiation using the tools described in the SEARCH section below Once a radiation source is detected SEARCH is used to find the location of the radioactive source and then IDENTIFY could be used to analyze the sample and determine the isotope Note When radioactivity is detected the Syclone emits an audio tone that rises in pitch the closer it gets to the source allowing the user to locate the source quickly As described in detail see Section 3 4 2 IDENTIFY collects a spectrum default acquisition time 55 seconds then automatically analyses it and advises the user of the details of any radioactive material s found 3 3 1 SEARCH This function is used to search for radioactive material s When the unit is turned ON in the AUTOMATIC Mode and the display shows the SEARCH display see Figure SEARCH display SEARCH the function currently activated i e SEARCH for battery icon displaying battery status RadComm Proprietary Page 13 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revisio
12. Comm Proprietary Page 8 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 2 0 DETAILED OPERATION GUIDE IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT STABILIZATION BE CARRIED OUT AS REQUIRED AFTER LOADING DEFAULT PARAMETERS THE ACT OF STABILIZATION SETS ALL THE SYSTEM COMPUTATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE IDENTIFY FUNCTION WITHOUT THIS STABILIZATION SERIOUS DATA ANALYSIS ERRORS WILL OCCUR SEE THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS FOR DETAILS ON OTHER FUNCTIONS 07 08 2011 STABILIZE 165650 STABILIZE 16 56 50 STABILIZING 1 DS PLACE SOURCE AT THE FACE OF SYCLONE TIME M ENTER TO CONTINUE OR PRESS UP ONCE TO EXIT 07 08 2011 STABILIZE 16 56 51 STABILIZATION COMPLETED PEAK 219 6 FWHM G ENTER TO CONTINUE Follow the instructions on the screen The following Screen will display if the unit cannot be stabilized STABILIZE If the Syclone detector fails Stabilization the unit cannot be used Call Service see Appendix Z for information CANNOT STABILIZE STABILIZATION OFF NOID If Stabilization is OFF the unit still has the ability to collect samples but with NO NUCLIDE ID ENTER TO CONTINUE RadComm Proprietary Page 9 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 2 0 DETAILED OPERATION GUIDE 2 6 CONNECTIONS USB COM Connection A special cable is supplied with the unit in ord
13. Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 4 0 SIMPLIFIED MODE OPERATION 4 0 SIMPLIFIED MODE OPERATION The SIMPLIFIED Mode delivers a one step operation SEARCH Identify automatically begins when the Syclone is turned ON A typical Screening Test can be performed as follows 1 Start the Syclone in SIMPLIFIED Mode the Syclone will begin the SEARCH 2 Verify the Syclone responds to radiation by placing the Syclone in front of the Cs 137 source usually 0 25 uCi Cs 137 provided with the unit 3 The Syclone should detect the radiation and emit an audio tone and automatically switches to the SPECTRUM ANALYSIS screen showing the sample time 4 After the sample time is complete the system automatically analyzes the data to determine the isotope of the source material The isotope should be Cs 137 EYES FREE Audio Warning System For Eyes Free operation the unit emits a loud variable pitch audio tone proportional to the intensity of the gamma radiation detected Note The audio warning can be adjusted and or switched off if required 4 1 STARTUP DISPLAYS Pull the joystick down to turn the unit ON and various displays are seen a STARTUP this display appears for only a few seconds see Figure Data shown as follows SYCLONE instrument name VERSION 1 0 the software version in the unit SIMPLIFIED MODE ACTIVE shows the unit is in the SIMPLIFIED Mode of operation b STABILIZE If the Syclone requires stabiliza
14. LISH ENGLISH Chinese Japanese Spanish German MISC BATTERY Lithium Lithium ELLANEOUS ACTIVE LIB STANDARD STANDARD MEDICAL USER LCD MODE NIGHT DAY NIGHT RadComm Proprietary Page 26 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 APPENDIX D QUICK START AUTOMATIC MODE APPENDIX D QUICK START AUTOMATIC MODE The Syclone automatically turns on when the joystick is pulled down A 0 25uCi 9 25kBq Cs 137 stabilization source is supplied with the unit and is used as directed when the unit requires stabilization Note The Syclone is limited to two active functions when set to the AUTOMATIC MODE of Operation SEARCH and IDENTIFY The steps below illustrate the process involved Note If batteries are not loaded see Section 1 5 and Figure para g amp h to properly load batteries 1 The Syclone detector is shipped ready to use The Syclone is also shipped in MANUAL MODE to facilitate the setup of the detectors parameters by the customers technician This will allow the customer to setup the detector to their specific needs The technician should set the detector to AUTOMATIC MODE prior to giving it to the operator At startup these screens only appear briefly before an Intro Screen appears The Active Mode is displayed across the bottom of the Introduction screen ie AUTOMATIC MODE 2 The SEARCH function of operation a The User sweeps the area in a slow steady
15. Syclone m USER MANUAL This user manual is supplied with the instrument RadComm Proprietary Page 5 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 2 0 DETAILED OPERATION GUIDE 2 0 DETAILED OPERATION GUIDE This section offers a detailed guide to system operation The AUTOMATIC same as simplified mode of operation is described in Chapter 3 0 2 1 JOYSTICK JOYSTICK ACTIONS The Syclone is equipped with a four position JOYSTICK on the instrument handle referred to in this manual as the JOYSTICK and this is the ONLY control on the instrument The great advantage of this single button control is that besides being very easy to use it also permits full operation EVEN WHEN WEARING GLOVES a definite advantage in many applications where protective clothing is required Various Joystick actions are permitted depending on the application CLICK UP DOWN a SHORT up to 0 5 sec push CLICK of the JOYSTICK UP away from the user or DOWN towards the user is used to scroll through the system menus ENTER holding the JOYSTICK DOWN toward the ON position on the joystick label for about ONE SECOND in the manual referred to as ENTER is used to activate the selection highlighted on the display CLICK LEFT RIGHT SHORT up to 0 5 sec click used in some menus to change parameters 2 2 POWER AND STARTUP FUNCTIONS a POWER ON System Startup Screen Cover Sc
16. This mode is very useful when inspecting a volume of containers and or vehicles such as ata border crossing for radioactive materials MANUAL MODE unrestricted system operation This mode is Not documented in this manual Please refer to the complete Syclone Service Manual for details Note This mode is used by technicians to setup the Syclone to customers parameters First time operation of the Syclone refer to Appendix D for a guide to the Automatic Mode Quick Start 1 4 NORMAL OPERATION PRIMARY MONITORING FUNCTIONS The Syclone may be operated in two Primary radiation monitoring functions a SEARCH In this function the Syclone acts as a RADIOMETER displaying the current COUNT RATE in counts sec A variable tone AUDIO will indicate radiation intensity with an automatic audio meter or user adjusted alarm level The display will show an increasing count second cps numeric radiation level This function is typically used to search for radioactive material or to carry out Total Count Search The SEARCH function displays the current DOSE RATE in selectable units and quantities as well as ACCUMULATED DOSE from the time the function was enabled The dose meter is used to determine the relative hazard level and to assess handling requirements of a radioactive material Dose Search of an area can also be carried out in SEARCH b IDENTIFY Nuclide Identification In this function the Syclone accumulates spectral data from a
17. YCLONE PORTABLE DETECTOR AND DISSEMINATION OF THE DETAILED TECHNICAL INFORMATION PROVIDED MAY BE CONSIDERED AS LEGALLY CONTRAVENING THE NORMAL SUPPLIER CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP UNAUTHORIZED RELEASE OF DETAILED TECHNICAL INFORMATION TO A THIRD PARTY WILL BE CONSIDERED AS A CONTRAVENTION OF USER AGREEMENTS RADCOMM RADIATION DETE SYSTEMS Manufactured by RadComm 2931 Portland Dr Oakville Ontario Canada L6H 5S4 RadComm Proprietary Page ii Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 Table of Contents 1 0 GENERAL SYSTEM DESCRIPTION jccssesisnscccsusicniseasstsssinasersterescinetideustianescssetedeatsiesaeases 1 1 1 SY GEONE HARDWARE eege geed 1 1 2 SOFTWARE scsticsinentnvnsacbtvatieentie enden ge ENET A N ARES d 1 3 BASIC SYS TEM OPERATION isiscitiesscececentscsdvectvanecs nc nieda na aiDan 2 1 4 NORMAL OPERATION PRIMARY MONITORING FUNCTIONS cn 3 1 5 SE KEREN ee ee Ee 3 2 0 DETAILED OPERATION GUIDE ssssussenseununnnnnnunnnnnennnnnnunnuunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnunnennnnnnnnnnnnn nnman 6 2 1 SE ee 6 2 2 POWER AND STARTUP FUNCTIONS AAA 6 2 3 SWITCHING SYCLONE OPERATIONAL MODES ene eees 7 2 5 STABILIZATION EE 8 2 6 CONNECTIONS ege tt eeh e iie Deech E aetna 10 3 0 AUTOMATIC MODE OPERATION ssssenssunsuuneunnunnuunuunnunnnunnunnnnnnnnnunnnnnnnnnnnnennnnnnnnn ennen 11 3 1 JOYSTICK NAVIGAT ION MEN ES ee ee Een ee 11 3 2 STARTUP DISPLAYS Ee EE 13 3 3 SYSTEM USE
18. and the Battery ICON becomes RED and flashes The user has approximately 30 minutes of measuring time left in the battery at this time When there is no longer enough power to allow measuring the Syclone turns OFF e The functions SEARCH and IDENTIFY are available to the Automatic Mode while all other functions are not accessible to the operator The Automatic Mode is suitable for operators who need only to detect the presence and identification of a radioactive material RadComm Proprietary Page 2 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 1 0 GENERAL SYSTEM DESCRIPTION e The Screens SEARCH IDENTIFY and NUCLIDE IDENTIFY have a navigation menu displayed see Chapter 3 0 at the bottom of the screen to help the operator choose joystick control functions e When the operation is complete and the Syclone is no longer required the battery power supply is plugged into the unit This allows the internal battery charger to charge the battery e Connecting the Syclone unit to the PC with the USB Cable will allow user to start the data download SIMPLIFIED MODE The Simplified Mode is easy to use and is very suitable for rapid SEARCH and detection of Gamma Ray emitting radioactive sources in suspect vehicles and containers The unit will store any detected spectra for further analysis and can download the samples to the PC using the supplied USB cable See Chapter 4 0 for more information Note
19. d in Simplified mode will end the identification routine when the first isotope is identified It is strongly recommended that an additional 30s gt sos be selected from the display to ensure the proper isotope identification SYCLONE MODES of Operation AUTOMATIC MODE See Appendix D for Quick Start Restricted to SEARCH and IDENTIFY functions only all other functions are disabled to simplify system use for non technical personnel e The Syclone uses a radioactive check source Cs 137 to maintain the systems stability when the unit requests stabilization the user places the Cs 137 check source on the central mark at the face of the unit and follows the screen messages e The Syclone contains a state of the art microprocessor and internal circuitry designed to automatically set the lowest achievable alarm level and to continuously monitor system operation in order to maintain consistent optimum performance e Upon the initial self test the Syclone will begin operating as soon as it is turned on e The Syclone can only use the manufacturers provided rechargeable lithium batteries These batteries provide around 7 hrs of continuous service e The Syclone displays the battery condition in the top right corner on the LCD A FULL charge is indicated by all three squares filled with GREEN as the charge reduces to one square it changes colour to yellow When the batteries fall below a certain level an audio warning occurs
20. e IDENTIFY function Please note that when the Syclone PC Software is opened it will always load the last library used The Standard library is the same as used in the Syclone unit If a different library is required it must be loaded to the Syclone PC Software application from a file RadComm Proprietary Page 23 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 APPENDIX B NUCLIDE LIBRARIES APPENDIX B NUCLIDE LIBRARIES The current list of nuclides in the Standard Library are Label Type of Isotope RadComm Proprietary Page 24 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 APPENDIX B NUCLIDE LIBRARIES The current list of nuclides in the Medical library are Label Note Currently RadComm has no plans to permit users to modify the libraries as library development is so complex that modifications can easily unbalance the analysis capability of the system and significantly degrade its performance However we will readily work with users to develop an appropriate library to fulfill their soecial requirements Labels in columns l Industrial M Medical S SNM N NORM RadComm Proprietary Page 25 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 APPENDIX C RECOMMENDED PARAMETERS APPENDIX C RECOMMENDED PARAMETERS
21. e audio beeps if Audio Alert is set to ON to remind the user that the data result is ready e Once the Spectrum is analyzed the user will use the joystick with a short click down to begin another SEARCH session f Prior to beginning the next search the Spectrum is automatically stored as a in chronological order Note The spectrum can be recalled from data memory and re analyzed at a later time RadComm Proprietary Page 28 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 APPENDIX D QUICK START AUTOMATIC MODE NAVIGATION MENUS Navigation Menus have been embedded in the system screens Automatic Mode only SEARCH YNUCID OFF gt Y STOP IDENTIFY GH SE gt 2MIN ySRCH D p R p ba 7 7 P NUCLIDE IDENT The Navigation Menus are located on the right for the SEARCH function and across the bottom of the screens in the Assay Mode and Assay Results with the joystick functions described below Note In some screens the internal computer is busy so a few seconds may pass before the selected change occurs SEARCH Navigation Menu no action T OFF approx 4 secs then unit powers OFF 4 NUCID switches to the IDENTIFY and Nuclide IDENTIFY IDENTIFY Navigation Menu p no action Tt OFF approx 4 secs then unit powers OFF 4 STOP stops the IDENTIFY sample NUCLIDE IDENT Navigation Menu gt 2MIN initiates an additional 2 minut
22. e count that adds to the current spectrum and at the end of the period gives a combined analysis Tt OFF approx 4 secs then unit powers OFF 4 SRCH switches to SEARCH Refer to Chapter 3 0 for a detailed explanation of all the screens and menus RadComm Proprietary Page 29 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 APPENDIX E SAFE HANDLING OF CHECK SOURCES APPENDIX E SAFE HANDLING OF CHECK SOURCES External Check Sources e Licensing Requirements Radioactive material contained in this device is exempt from USNRC or US Agreement State licensing requirements It is also exempt in most countries around the world However in all cases it is a controlled substance Users should make themselves familiar with local regulations to ensure compliance e Safe Handling Although quantities of radioactive material contained in these products are extremely small the basic radiation protection principles of time distance and shielding ALARA As Low As Reasonably Achievable should be practiced as effective methods for minimizing exposure e Use These devices should only be used as a method for verifying response of radiation measuring devices and are to be used in accordance with manufacture s instructions These sources are not for human use introduction into foods beverages cosmetics drugs or medicines or into products manufactured for commercial distribution Exempt qua
23. en weak gamma sources hidden from view The unit has adjustable sensitivity levels and automatically adjusts to the background radiation which helps prevent nuisance alarms The mechanical assembly of the Syclone is robust and durable designed to be used in field applications where harsh environment are associated 1 22 SOFTWARE This manual describes the current firmware release and all information regarding system PC software 1 Syclone Operating System Firmware The Syclone operating system utilizes sensible easy to read and follow menus The multi position joystick and large LCD backlit display provides a user friendly method to navigate through menu selections Detailed spectral information is clearly and precisely displayed to provide knowledgeable users with the capability to visually identify peaks in the histogram Various on screen messages assist the user when immediate attention is required for issues such as preset timing high radiation levels alarm settings and Warning messages 2 Remote SYCLONE PC Spectral Analysis and Data Storage Software The Syclone is equipped with a large internal memory to store large amounts of data which is stored by record number date and time Stored data such as spectral and dose rate information can be easily downloaded to a PC through mini USB or Bluetooth The downloaded data can be displayed and managed with RadComm Proprietary Page 1 Revision Date April 2 2013 Sycl
24. er to connect the Syclone to a PC and transfer data for analysis Power Connection The power cable battery charger is connected to the power connector on the Syclone which supplies 12VDC to the unit from a standard wall receptacle A power supply and cable comes with the Syclone and is used with the integrated internal charger to charge the battery in 4 hrs eh POWER oe xN ar o RadComm Proprietary Page 10 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 3 0 AUTOMATIC MODE OPERATION 3 0 AUTOMATIC MODE OPERATION The Automatic Mode delivers a two step operation SEARCH see Section 3 3 1 automatically begins when the Syclone is turned ON IDENTIFY see Section 3 3 2 the user chooses the Identify function using the joystick and the Navigation Menu see Section 3 2 Once the pre selected sampling time is complete the Syclone will automatically analyze the sample and return a result see Section 3 3 3 Note The Syclone is operated in SIMPLIFIED Mode when the user requires rapid detection of gamma emitting radioactive sources Identify will automatically begin when a source is detected The AUTOMATIC Mode is used when the User requires more investigation and analysis If the customer requires changes to the operating parameters a qualified user can set the Syclone to MANUAL Mode see Section 2 3 and change the operating parameter s to suit the users applicatio
25. is 7s If the acquisition time is 2 minutes then the progress bar shows the progress of the 2 minute count time mm The progress box shows the time progress to the end of the sample period 3 3 3 RESULTS After the sample time is complete the system automatically analyses the data to determine the isotope of the material and displays the results as shown see Figure Note When the NUCLIDE IDENTIFY result is displayed the audio beeps depends on the setting to remind the user that the result is ready NUCLIDE IDENTIFY display TYPE shows the category of the isotope identified Labels used are IND Industrial isotope MED Medical isotope SNM Special Nuclear Material NORM Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials ISOTOPE is the actual name of the isotope see Appendix B SPECTRUM STORED AS x every time an IDENTIFY analysis takes place the radiation data spectrum from this analysis is stored in memory where it can be accessed with special software for subsequent analysis as required Spectrum stored as x is shown at the lower part of the screen where x is a sequential number to advise the user that the spectra is being saved in memory as SPECTRUM x for future retrieval This number x can be anywhere from 1 to 498 and serves to uniquely identify the data in system memory for use during data retrieval and analysis It is important to keep accurate records of the spectra origin
26. lly charging them for at least 4 hours Note To get reliable performance and full capacity out of the batteries throughout their life it is important to let them fully discharge and then fully re charge for 4 hours at least once every two months This will assure that the batteries provide around 7 hours of operation BATTERY CHARGER the battery charger is an integral part of the unit and requires the supplied power supply which plugs into a normal wall receptacle using house current CHECK SOURCE The Syclone uses a 0 25 Ci Cs 137 check source which will stabilize the unit under 3 mins Note There is a central mark on the front of the case which represents the effective center of the Nal detector Place the supplied source at this spot when the unit requests stabilization and follow the screen messages SYSTEM SUPPORT SOFTWARE The SYCLONE PC software is provided with the Syclone unit on a CD ROM This is a Windows based program that operates under Windows NT 2000 XP and System 7 The program and its operation is described in Appendix A It provides data downloading data display custom library uploading spectrum display analysis RadComm Proprietary Page 4 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 1 0 GENERAL SYSTEM DESCRIPTION and various other features D HARD SHELL TRANSPORTATION CASE The system is supplied with a hard shell carrying case for easy transportation of the
27. m Dose Rate GM level normally set at 10uSv h 1000uR h Below this level Dose Rates are considered 264 CPS acceptable for system operation However above 40 1 uSv h this level it is recommended that users move away from the source of radiation to reduce the high Dose Rate to an acceptable level To make things simple the Syclone advises the users automatically if the Dose Rate goes above the RadComm Proprietary Page 14 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 3 0 AUTOMATIC MODE OPERATION 3 3 1 3 3 2 Note IDENTIFY display Information Line preset limit HIGH DOSE RATE MOVE AWAY If the level is exceeded a distinctive audio warning tone occurs and the display changes As noted the user should back away until the Dose Rate level falls below this limit and the display warning goes away Note that the lower Dose Rate bar graph also shows that the Dose rate is at or above the preset limit Users should be reminded that short term operation close to the limit has a negligible hazard level but prolonged operation significantly above this level is not recommended If the dose rate exceeds 40uSv h the unit automatically switches the dose rate measurement from Nal crystal to GM tube 2 NEUTRON ALARM If the integrated Neutron detector detects neutrons above the preset alarm threshold then a Neutron Alarm is declared NEUTRONS DETECTED A distinctive audio
28. n 4 3 0 AUTOMATIC MODE OPERATION Note The information shown below documents examples taken from the figure above The Syclone has threshold settings for Dose Rate Counts per Second CPS and Neutrons CPS Threshold by default is OFF in accordance with parameters see Appendix C NEUT shows that measurement is for Neutrons The example shows 0 5 CPS Counts per Second of neutrons detected ROI 1 Nal This is the Region of Interest 1 collected by the sodium iodide Nal detector 169 CPS this is the gamma radiation level in cps counts per second This level will always show some counts even if no apparent radioactive material is present as this is the local radiation background of an area Typically in low background areas 50 100cps are common Resettable CPS radiation alarm thresholds are OFF 100 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 600 700 1K 2K 5K 9Kcps DOSE RATE the bar display and the numeric data show the Dose Rate data in the selected units The numeric data shown above 169cps in the figure is an essential tool to locate radioactive material but the DOSE data gives the user an idea of the potential hazard level of such material 142 nSv h this is the current dose rate CHART DISPLAY this is a chart recorder display of the radiation data The bottom of the chart is ZERO cps and the top of the scale depends upon the scale setting The display moves from left to right so the LEFT hand data i
29. n s The system is then returned to the SIMPLIFIED or AUTOMATIC Mode of Operation for the User A typical Screening Test can be performed as follows 1 2 Start the Syclone in AUTOMATIC Mode the Syclone will begin the SEARCH Verify the Syclone responds to radiation by placing the Syclone in front of the Cs 137 source usually 0 25 uCi Cs 137 provided with the unit The Syclone should detect the radiation and emit an audio tone Click down on the joystick to select the IDENTIFY function and to collect a sample After the sample time is complete the system automatically analyzes the data to determine the isotope of the source material The isotope should be Cs 137 EYES FREE Audio Warning System For Eyes Free operation the unit emits a loud variable pitch audio tone proportional to the intensity of the gamma radiation detected Note The audio warning can be adjusted and or switched off if required 3 1 JOYSTICK NAVIGATION MENUS Operation of the joystick detailing all of its JOYSTICK functions is discussed in Section 2 1 ACTIONS Navigation menus have been embedded into the system screens of the Automatic Mode ONLY for the following operations away from you DOWN CoN ET ge EET RIGHT RadComm Proprietary Page 11 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 3 0 AUTOMATIC MODE OPERATION SEARCH IDENTIFY er 2 ae wehbe 2 ee
30. ntities should not be combined to increase the source activity e Storage All devices containing radioactive material should be securely stored when not in use Any loss of radioactive material must be reported to the local authorities e Disposal There are several ways to dispose of radioactive materials The user is advised to check local regulations and dispose the radioactive material according to these regulations RadComm Proprietary Page 30 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 APPENDIX Z WARRANTY APPENDIX Z WARRANTY RADCOMM RADIATION DETE SYSTEMS RadComm WARRANTY RadComm warrants the product to be free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of purchase The warranty does not cover consumables or damage caused by improper use or unauthorized repairs For details concerning warranty terms refer to the Standard Terms and Conditions as referenced in your purchasing agreement To make a warranty claim contact the RadComm Help Desk at Contact Help Desk 24 Hour Product Support Phone 1 905 829 8290 ext 3 Fax 1 905 829 1406 Email inquiries radcommsystems com RadComm Proprietary Page 31 Revision Date April 2 2013
31. one Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 1 0 GENERAL SYSTEM DESCRIPTION the powerful SYCLONE PC Software Primary features such as the selection and highlighting of R O 1 details and Zoom In Out of the gamma energy histogram can be easily performed The SYCLONE PC Software has all the necessary features that will meet the needs of virtually any user 1 3 BASIC SYSTEM OPERATION The Syclone is delivered fully charged and ready to operate The user chooses the mode of operation MANUAL SIMPLIFIED or AUTOMATIC This is performed by user selection when the cover page appears the user holds down the joystick to see the Mode selection screen Most operators will use either the SIMPLIFIED or AUTOMATIC mode s which are designed to allow for fast and easy inspection of areas containers or vehicles that may contain radioactive materials or to verify or separate radioactive materials that have triggered an alarm from a large scale radioactive detector system The SIMPLIFIED Mode is similar to the AUTOMATIC Mode but when a source is found it switches to IDENTIFY automatically the spectra is stored for further analysis but the Dose Rate is not saved Notes e When using the Syclone in potentially dangerous situations a maximum Dose Rate or CPS Rate can be preset by the customers parameters If the dose rate or cps rises above the set level it triggers an automatic acoustic alarm warning the user to find protection e The Syclone when use
32. ovides a comfortable balance which affords the operator hours of stress free usage JOYSTICK The Syclone has only one operating control the four position joystick on the handle All system functions are controlled by the JOYSTICK that permits very easy instrument functions EVEN WHILE WEARING GLOVES IN A BIOHAZARD SUIT The JOYSTICK is a specially designed switch with four actions UP DOWN LEFT and RIGHT The JOYSTICK and use of menu driven functions makes the Syclone very easy to operate and avoids the necessity of memorizing complex sequences of action Note A joystick Navigation Menu is available at the bottom of each screen in Automatic Mode see Appendix D DISPLAY ALCD is used for the Syclone to permit a full range of alphanumeric and graphic display capabilities This LCD gives excellent contrast in high light conditions REAR CONNECTIONS The Syclone has PC and Battery Charger connections mounted on the rear of the unit To connect to the PC and transfer data using the mini USB cable To connect to the supplied power supply cable BATTERIES The Syclone requires manufacturers supplied lithium batteries While rechargeable batteries are shipped fully charged they will self discharge with time when not in use It is important to condition new batteries whether received with the system or purchased separately Conditioning is achieved by first totally discharging the batteries in the SYCLONE unit and then fu
33. reen After approx 2 seconds the display will be replaced by the normal startup screen as shown The normal startup display remains on the screen for a few seconds b MODE SELECTION See Section 2 3 for more information The Syclone is delivered fully powered and in the MANUAL Mode so that the customers technician can setup parameters specific to their usage To change the Mode setting startup the unit and hold down the joystick when the cover page appears the mode selection screen will then appear and the user can use the joystick to choose from MANUAL AUTOMATIC or SIMPLIFIED RadComm Proprietary Page 6 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 2 0 DETAILED OPERATION GUIDE c d e f MODE The Syclone is ready to be used for the selected mode by the operator or technician Initialization and Testing To switch the unit ON CLICK DOWN towards the user the joystick The display will come on and System Initialization will proceed for a few seconds The unit is carrying out internal testing to verify that components are functioning correctly If errors are found an audio beep will be heard MAIN MENU After the initial start up screen the Syclone Main Menu appears The user may scroll through the menu items by a short click UP or click DOWN Reverse highlighting shows the current menu item selected Menu items are selected by highlighting the desired item
34. s the current data The chart shows the last 256 samples and is a very useful view back at the data making it very easy to see any significant radiation increases Note that the numeric cps data is not energy dependent so very small changes of any type of radioactive material emitting gamma rays can be easily seen the bar graph gives the user an easy visual display of the Dose rate level Zero on the left and Maximum on the right The Maximum Dose level allowed is determined by the Users technical personnel This level is then reflected in the system parameters and defines the high radiation threshold for the bar graph The User is warned when the limit is exceeded see the HIGH DOSE Section 3 3 1 1 20 0 this shows the defined limit selected by the system supervisor that is the maximum range on the bar graph If this limit is exceeded a special alarm occurs Note that this user is in the units selected in the display shown since the D RATE is in uSv h then the 20 0 20 0uSv h At this setting if the DOSE RATE exceeds 20 0 uSv h then the warning alarm will occur see Section 3 3 1 1 Resettable Dose Rate radiation alarm thresholds are OFF 10 20 50 100 200 500 1000 2000 4000 5000 9000 uR h linked to units Note If the radiation goes above the maximum dose level a high dose warning is displayed on the screen and a high pitched sound is emitted 3 3 1 1 HIGH DOSE The system has a preset maximu
35. sample and analyses the spectrum in terms of emitted energy level and net count contribution The nuclides responsible for producing the spectrum are identified by comparison to a nuclide library This essential information can then be used to determine risk assessment 1 5 SYSTEM FEATURES a INSTRUMENT BODY The instrument body consists of two primary parts the lower case and top panel The combination of the two parts provides a high degree of system strength suitable for field operations where mechanical abuse may be unavoidable b DETECTOR i Crystal Detector The 1 5 38mm x 2 51mm Thallium doped sodium iodide Nal crystal is specially designed for rugged environments RadComm Proprietary Page 3 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 1 0 GENERAL SYSTEM DESCRIPTION c d e f g h i k ii GM the rugged Geiger Muller tube is mounted just behind the instrument front face and is used to extend the Dose Rate range to 10 R hr 100 mSv hr for special applications ii Neutron Detector He this is a helium filled neutron counter EFFECTIVE CENTER The optimum sensing area for the Sodium lodide Nal detector is the area represented by the central mark located on the front of the blue Syclone case HANDLE The handle was carefully designed to allow for a variety of grips it also gives the unit a measure of strength and pr
36. st sealed water splash proof Relative Humidity 93 non condensing at 104 F 40 C Vibration 2 g for 15 min at 10 33 Hz in XYZ directions ANSI N42 34 Shock Complies with ANSI N42 34 EM Compatibility ANSI N42 34 compliant CE compliant EU safety RFI and EMI directives FCC CFR 47 Part 15 Subpart B Class B compliant RadComm Proprietary Page 21 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 5 0 SYCLONE SPECIFICATIONS ACCESSORIES Standard Vinyl Transportation Case USB Communication Cable Cs137 0 25uCi Test Source 12 VDC universal AC DC Power Adaptor System Operation Manual Certificate of Calibration CD ROM with Syclone PC Software Protective rubber boot RadComm Proprietary Page 22 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 APPENDIX A using isotope libraries APPENDIX A USING ISOTOPE LIBRARIES While the STANDARD library is the default library when Syclone PC Software is installed other libraries can be used to analyze the spectra downloaded from the Syclone This enables the user to re analyze the spectra with the same library as used in the Syclone or with a different library thus providing an additional tool in assessing unknown spectral features The standard library used with the Syclone unit is as shown below This is the library used to determine the nuclide identification and provide samples in th
37. t with time which may be exacerbated by changes in the ambient temperature Sodium lodide Nal crystals typically exhibit a 15 change in scintillation light output over the 10 to 50 C temperature range If not corrected this drift could seriously affect data analysis For this reason the Syclone incorporates a procedure known as STABILIZATION to remove these effects Stabilization automatically fine tunes the system to adjust the internal system gain and align the spectrometer correctly The User can activate STABILIZE by pressing ENTER TO CONTINUE Stabilization can also be started from the MAIN MENU of Manual Mode Carry out the stabilization function using the external Cesium source Cs 137 supplied with unit The User can select from Configuration Stabilization menu there are several options to stabilize the Syclone These are 12 hours 24 hours AUTO and OFF The options 12 and 24 hours adjust the time intervals when the Syclone will notify the user to re stabilize the unit AUTO is an option to avoid frequent Cs 137 source stabilization for Nal detector temperature interval between 14 C to 34 C If the detector temperature falls above or below the set parameter the message Stabilization required will appear on the display If the user does not need nuclide ID but still wants to accumulate the spectra he or she can turn stabilization to OFF Rad
38. tion this screen will be displayed Pressing Enter will open the STABILIZE Screen RadComm Proprietary Page 18 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 4 0 SIMPLIFIED MODE OPERATION 4 2 SYSTEM USE SIMPLIFIED MODE This Syclone automatically begins the SEARCH function scanning for radioactive material s see Figure NEUT NAI When the unit FINDS a source it automatically switches to the SPECTRUM ANALYSIS function and the display shows Sample Time see Figure The audio will beep and the unit will vibrate Right clicking the joystick will disable the audio and vibration to save the battery power If the Stab Mode is set to OFF the following screen will be shown 07 08 2011 16 56 50 After the sample time is complete the system automatically analyses the data to determine the isotope of the source material s The NUCLIDE IDENTIFY NAI 59 CPS screen opens automatically showing the result 3 J 4 e uR h NEUT 9 CPS At this point the User can resume the Search function by pressing the joystick in the correct direction see below See Section 2 1 for Joystick details TYPE NUCLIDE IND Cs 137 32 NEUTRON POSSIBLE SNM 56 30S initiates an additional 30 second count that gt adds to the current spectrum and at the end of the period gives a combined analysis t OFF approx 4 secs then unit powers OFF m STORED ase 123
39. to link the spectra to a particular source or event UNKNOWN SOURCE and Shielded Source The Syclone has a wide selection of radioactive isotopes in its internal library If after analysis the isotope or the residual signal gamma peak cannot be identified and the Dose Rate lt Base Dose Threshold the screen displays UNKNOWN SOURCE If the analysis results are such that the Dose Rate lt Base Dose Threshold radiation and no gamma peaks found then the Syclone shall display BACKGROUND as the system is seeing the local background Furthermore the results may contain peaks with no Isotope Identification scattered radiation with no Isotope Identification or a combination of an identified isotope and RadComm Proprietary Page 16 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 3 0 AUTOMATIC MODE OPERATION strong peaks with no Isotope Identification and if the Dose Rate gt Base Dose Threshold These all may indicate the presence of an SHIELDED SOURCE Note If the isotope cannot be identified retrieve the stored spectrum and follow your predefined operating protocol or call the RadComm Help desk see Appendix Z who will direct the call to the appropriate person for further analysis NEUTRONS DETECTED DURING IDENTIFY OTHER FEATURES The presence of neutrons may indicate special nuclear material as the SNM may be associated with neutron emission If any neutron acti
40. vity is detected and it is above the preset threshold during IDENTIFY analysis the NUCLIDE IDENTIFY screen will display POSSIBLE SNM see Figure The unit is more sensitive to neutron radiation in the IDENTIFY function because it collects samples for a longer period of time 55 seconds as opposed to the SEARCH function A weak neutron source has a better chance to be detected using IDENTIFY when it is missed in SEARCH 3 4 POWER OFF MANUAL CLICK UP away from the user and hold for 4 seconds see Figure The display will show a special display see Figure with the seconds counting down 3 2 1 After this countdown the unit powers OFF At any time during the countdown releasing the JOYSTICK will cancel the power OFF 3 5 BACKLITE The BACKLITE function is built into the Syclone so that the display may be viewed in low ambient light conditions BACKLITE is enabled for constant use 3 6 CALIBRATION REQUIRED The Syclone spectrometer is a finely tuned instrument that provides accurate results when all components are functioning properly In order for the Syclone to maintain its high level of accuracy the instrument should be calibrated by a certified company every 12 to 18 months The Syclone will show the message CALIBRATION REQUIRED which is informing the operator that the Syclone should be calibrated RadComm Proprietary Page 17 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable
41. warning tone occurs and the display shows neutron warning see Figure IDENTIFY Once the location of the source is detected the user can attempt to identify the type of source by switching to the IDENTIFY function The IDENTIFY function is activated by pressing ENTER displaying a new screen To obtain good results position the Syclone at the highest point of radioactivity found by the SEARCH function Keep the Syclone as stable as possible during sampling to get a good result SCANNING the function currently activated IDENTIFY IS IN PROGRESS advises the user that a sample is in progress for the time period set in the unit so the unit should be held in a fixed position to enable a proper sample to be taken Alternative displays in information line are MOVE CLOSER un fOVE GUOSERI if signal is very weak so possible the user should move the unit closer to the suspect source of radiation In many cases this is impossible so no action need be taken but if possible move the unit closer until the display shows OK MOVE AWAY means tht ve HVETAWAYT signal is stronger than is necessary to take a proper sample Correct action is to back away until the display shows SCANNING RadComm Proprietary Page 15 Revision Date April 2 2013 Syclone Portable Gamma Ray Spectrometer Revision 4 3 0 AUTOMATIC MODE OPERATION TIME This shows the time already used for collecting the spectrum In this case it
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