Radiometric measuring device for carrying out measurements in explosion-prone areas

• US 20160320498A1
• Filed: 11/14/2014
• Published: 11/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Company KG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Original Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Company KG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Inventors: Benz, Dieter, Weidenbruch, Simon
• Granted Patent: US 9,804,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/288 X-rays; Gamma rays or other forms of ionising radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2018 Scintillation-photodiode combinations
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/24 with semiconductor detectors

Abstract

The invention relates to a radiometric measuring device for carrying out measurements in an explosion-prone area, which radiometric measuring device requires only little space at the measurement location and can be economically produced. The radiometric measuring device comprises a measuring unit (7) that can be used in the explosion-prone area. Said measuring unit comprises a scintillator (13), which converts radioactive radiation incident on the scintillator into photons, and a semiconductor detector (15), which is connected to the scintillator (13) and can be operated by means of an inherently safe energy supply and metrologically captures photons arising in the scintillator (13) and reaching the semiconductor detector (15), and converts said photons into electrical measurement signals. Explosion protection measures to be associated exclusively with the ignition protection class of the inherent safety are provided in the measuring unit. The radiometric measuring device also comprises a superordinate unit (11) to be arranged outside of the explosion-prone area and to be connected to the measuring unit (7). The superordinate unit effects an inherently safe supply of the measuring unit (7)—in particular, the semiconductor detector (15), during measuring operation.

Claims

1. Radiometric measuring device for carrying out measurements in an explosion-prone area, having

a measuring unit (7) that is usable in explosion-prone areas, having

a scintillator (13), which converts incident radioactive radiation into photons, and

a semiconductor detector (15), which is connected to the scintillator (13) and can be operated by means of an inherently safe energy supply and metrologically captures photons arising in the scintillator (13) and reaching the semiconductor detector (15), and converts said photons into electrical measurement signals,

in which measuring unit explosion protection measures to be associated exclusively with the ignition protection class of inherent safety are provided, and

a superordinate unit (11, 11′

) to be arranged outside of the explosion-prone area and to be connected to the measuring unit (7),

which superordinate unit effects an inherently safe supply of the measuring unit (7)—

in particular, the semiconductor detector (15), during measuring operation.

2. Radiometric measuring device according to claim 1, in which

the semiconductor detector (15) is the only electrical component provided in the measuring unit (7) that needs to be supplied with energy during measuring operation, and

only one explosion protection measure of the inherent safety ignition protection class is provided inside the measuring unit (7), which measure consists of the semiconductor detector (15) being a semiconductor detector chip that can be supplied with energy via an inherently safe energy supply.

3. Radiometric measuring device according to claim 1, in which

the semiconductor detector (15) is a semiconductor detector chip with one or several light-sensitive cells connected in parallel,

the light-sensitive cells are equipped with photodiodes—

particularly, avalanche photodiodes operated in Geiger mode—

and

the photodiodes have low breakdown voltages of less than 30 V—

particularly, less than 20 V—

and

the semiconductor detector (15) can be operated with a respectively low operating voltage—

particularly, an operating voltage lower than 30 V.

4. Radiometric measuring device according to claim 1, in which

an inherently safe additional circuit (17) is provided between the semiconductor detector (15) and the superordinate unit (11),

the additional circuit (17) is supplied with energy via the superordinate unit (11) in an inherently safe manner, and

the additional circuit (17) effects an inherently safe energy supply of the semiconductor detector (15).

5. Radiometric measuring device according to claim 1, in which

the connection of the superordinate unit (11′

) to the semiconductor detector (15) is a wireless connection,

the measuring unit (7) is equipped with an RFID transponder (23) that is connected to the semiconductor detector (15) or integrated therein, and

the superordinate unit (11′

) is configured as an RFID reading device, which supplies the measuring unit (7) wirelessly with energy in an inherently safe manner.