SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING RADIATION IN A CONTAMINATED ROOM

• US 20150346356A1
• Filed: 08/11/2015
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLS
• Original Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLS
• Inventors: Harpring, Lawrence J.
• Application Number:
  US14/823,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20150346356A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/167 Measuring radioactive content of objects, e.g. contamination whole body counters G01T1/163
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/169 Exploration, location of contaminated surface areas
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 7/00 Details of radiation-measuring instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/025 using multiple collimators, e.g. Bucky screens; other devices for eliminating undesired or dispersed radiation

Abstract

A system for identifying the location of radioactive material in a contaminated room includes a projector, a distance sensor, and a CPU operably connected to the projector and distance sensor. The CPU receives distance data from the distance sensor and controls an image projected by the projector onto an object in the contaminated room. A method of identifying the location of radioactive material in a contaminated room includes conducting a radiation survey of the contaminated room and transferring information from the radiation survey to a projector. The method further includes placing the projector in the contaminated room and projecting information from the radiation survey onto an object in the contaminated room.

Claims

1. A method of identifying the location of radioactive material in a contaminated room, comprising the steps of:

collecting data on the location of radioactive material on an object in the contaminated room;

placing a visual illustration system within the contaminated room such that the visual illustration system is physically located within the contaminated room; and

projecting via the visual illustration system a projected image onto the object that identifies a location of radioactive material on the object.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining information on the location of radioactive material in the contaminated room by use of a radiosensitive detector material that is sensitive to radiation;

obtaining information on a location and orientation of the radiosensitive detector material in the contaminated room; and

obtaining location and dimensional information of the object and of additional objects in the contaminated room;

wherein the step of collecting data is accomplished via a transfer of the information from the obtaining information on the location of radioactive material step, the information from the obtaining information on the location and orientation step, and the information from the obtaining location and dimensional information step to the visual illustration system.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of converting mapped data regarding location and intensity of radiation and location and dimensions of the object into a format capable of being read by a laser projector that includes a text file with a specific format capable of describing how to draw a two dimensional line drawing of the location of radioactive material on the object.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the projected image is of multiple colors that identify the location of different intensities of radioactive material on the object.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the projected image is made of multiple color laser lights such that a high radiation intensity boundary is defined by one of the colors of laser lights, and such that a medium radiation intensity boundary is defined by a different color of one of the colors of laser lights, and such that a low radiation intensity boundary is defined by a different color of one of the colors of laser lights that is different from the high and medium radiation intensity boundary colors.

6. A method of identifying the location of radioactive material in a contaminated room, comprising:

conducting a radiation survey of the contaminated room;

transferring information from the radiation survey to a projector;

placing the projector in the contaminated room; and

projecting information from the radiation survey onto an object in the contaminated room.

7. The method as in claim 6, further comprising determining the location of the projector in the contaminated room.

8. The method as in claim 6, further comprising projecting information from the radiation survey onto an object in the contaminated room in a plurality of colors that reflect a plurality of intensities of radiation detected by the radiation survey.

9. The method as in claim 6, further comprising maintaining the projected information from the radiation survey on the object constant for various positions of the projector in the contaminated room.

10. The method as in claim 6, further comprising adjusting the projected information from the radiation survey based on the position of the projector in the contaminated room so that the projected information from the radiation survey onto the object in the contaminated room remains unchanged.

11. The method as in claim 6, further comprising marking the object in the contaminated room to reflect the projected information from the radiation survey.

12. A system for identifying the location of radioactive material in a contaminated room, comprising:

a projector;

a distance sensor; and

a CPU operably connected to the projector and distance sensor;

wherein the CPU receives distance data from the distance sensor and controls an image projected by the projector onto an object in the contaminated room.

13. The system as in claim 12, wherein the projector comprises a laser projector.

14. The system as in claim 12, wherein the CPU adjusts the image projected by the projector onto the object in the contaminated room based on the position of the projector in the contaminated room.

15. The system as in claim 12, further comprising a compass operably connected to the CPU, wherein the CPU receives angle data from the compass and controls the image projected by the projector onto the object in the contaminated room.

16. The system as in claim 12, wherein the CPU adjusts the image projected by the projector onto the object in the contaminated room based on the orientation of the projector in the contaminated room.