Centralized detection of radiation in multiple facilities

• US 8,912,504 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2012
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nucor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nucor Corporation
• Inventors: Rowlan, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaworecki, Mark R
• Application Number:
  US13/674,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20130085788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 250/336.1, 250/394, 250/395
• US Class Current: 250/394
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 7/00 Details of radiation-measuring instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/271 using a network, e.g. a remote expert, accessing remote data or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/82 Energy audits or management systems therefor

Abstract

A central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time is disclosed. The system may include radiation detection systems, at least one processor to process monitoring data generated by the radiation detection systems to compensate for naturally occurring radiation, and a central monitoring station capable of generating an alarm at the central monitoring station and at a facility where an undesired radiation level has been detected. A method of monitoring radiation levels in production facilities is also disclosed. The method may include providing a plurality of radiation detection systems, providing a central monitor in communication with the radiation detection systems, communicating data from the radiation detection systems to the central monitor, and analyzing the data to detect potential radioactive materials.

Claims

1. A central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time comprising:

a plurality of radiation detection systems capable of detecting radiation levels in recycled material positioned at a plurality of locations through a network of facilities,

at least one processor to process monitoring data generated by each of the plurality of radiation detection system to compensate for naturally occurring radiation and communicating compensated radiation levels,

a central monitoring station capable of receiving data from the processor and identifying radioactive material in the recycled material at each radiation detection system, and

the central monitoring station capable of generating an alarm at the central monitoring station and at the facility involved where an undesired radiation level has been recorded by at least one radiation detection system.

2. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 1 where the radiation detection systems comprise scintillation detectors counting radiation incidents in an energy spectrum.

3. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 1 where the central monitoring station is capable of monitoring the radiation detection systems for proper operation of the radiation detection systems.

4. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 3 where the central monitoring station is capable of interrogating the radiation detection systems for proper operation.

5. The system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same as claimed in claim 3 where the radiation detection systems are capable of reporting their operating status to the central monitoring station.

6. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 1 where the central monitoring station is capable of performing diagnostics on the radiation detection systems for proper operation of the radiation detection systems.

7. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 1 where the central monitoring station is capable of configuring at least some of the radiation detection systems to change radiation detection levels as desired.

8. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 1 where the central monitoring station is capable of setting threshold radiation levels in each radiation detection system corresponding to a threshold undesirable radiation level.

9. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 1 where the central monitoring station is capable of selectively aggregating and analyzing data from different radiation detection systems.

10. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 1 where the processor analyzes the monitoring data from each radiation detection system by dividing the spectrum of the data into increments with suspected radioactive material in desired increments.

11. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 10 where the increments correspond to at least cobalt, cesium, and radium.

12. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 1 where the processor analyzes the monitoring data from each detector system by segregating the spectrum of the data into increments and normalizing each segment based on the difference in counts between said increments.

13. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 12 where potassium response is monitored and used to calibrate the radiation detector system.

14. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 1 further comprises a plurality of processors, each processor configured to process monitoring data generated by at least a portion of the plurality of radiation detection systems.

15. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 1 where the alarm is selected from the group consisting of speed alarm, gamma alarm, NORM alarm, and false alarm.

16. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 1 where the processor compensates for variation in load levels of recycled material on passing through the radiation detection system.

17. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 1 where the processor is part of the central monitoring station.

18. A central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of steelmaking facilities at the same time comprising:

a plurality of radiation detection systems capable of detecting radiation levels in scrap loads positioned at a plurality of locations through a network of steelmaking facilities,

at least one processor to process monitoring data generated by each of the plurality of radiation detection system to compensate for naturally created radiation and communicating compensated radiation levels,

a central monitoring station capable of receiving data from the processor and identifying radioactive material in scrap loads at each radiation detection system, and

the central monitoring station capable of triggering an alarm both at the central monitoring station and at the steelmaking facility involved where an undesired radiation level has been recorded by at least one radiation detection system.

19. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of steelmaking facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 18 where the radiation detection systems comprise scintillation detectors counting radiation incidents in an energy spectrum.

20. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of steelmaking facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 18 where the central station is capable of monitoring the radiation detection systems for proper operation of the radiation detection systems.

21. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of steelmaking facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 20 where the central monitoring station is capable of interrogating the radiation detection systems for proper operation.

22. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of steelmaking facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 20 where the radiation detection systems are capable of reporting their operating status to the central monitoring station.

23. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of steelmaking facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 18 where the central monitoring station is capable of performing diagnostics on the radiation detection systems for proper operation of the radiation detection systems.

24. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of steelmaking facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 18 where the central monitoring station is capable of configuring at least some of the radiation detection systems to change radiation detection levels as desired.

25. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of steelmaking facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 18 where the central monitoring station is capable of setting threshold radiation levels in each radiation detection system corresponding to a threshold undesirable radiation level.

26. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of steelmaking facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 18 where the central monitoring station is capable of selectively aggregating and analyzing data from different detector systems.

27. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of steelmaking facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 18 where the processor analyzes the monitoring data from each radiation detection system by dividing the spectrum of the data into increments with suspected radioactive material in desired increments.

28. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of steelmaking facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 27 where the increments include at least cobalt, cesium, and radium.

29. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of steelmaking facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 18 where the processor analyzes the monitoring data from each detector by segregating the spectrum of the data into increments and normalizing each segment based on the difference in counts between said increments.

30. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of steelmaking facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 29 where potassium response is monitored and used to calibrate the radiation detector system.

31. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of steelmaking facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 18 further comprises a plurality of processors, each processor configured to process monitoring data generated by at least a portion of the plurality of radiation detection systems.

32. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of steelmaking facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 18 where the alarm is selected from the group consisting of speed alarm, gamma alarm, NORM alarm, and false alarm.

33. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of steelmaking facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 18 where the processor compensates for variation in load levels of recycled material on passing through the detractor system.

34. The central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of steelmaking facilities at the same time as claimed in claim 18 where the processor is part of the central monitoring station.

35. A system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilities comprising:

a plurality of radiation detection systems positioned at a plurality of locations through a plurality of steelmaking facilities capable of detecting radiation levels of potential radiation sources in steelmaking material,

a central monitoring station in communication with the plurality of radiation detection systems capable of receiving data from the radiation detection systems corresponding to radiation levels, and

the radiation detection systems capable of triggering an alarm both at the central monitoring station and at the steelmaking facility where an undesired radiation level has been recorded by at least one of the radiation detection systems.

36. The system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 35 where the central monitoring station is capable of statistically processing the received data from the radiation detection systems to identify low-level radioactive material in the steelmaking material.

37. The system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 35 where a processor analyzes monitoring data from the radiation detection systems by dividing the spectrum of the data into increments with suspected radioactive material in desired increments.

38. The system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 37 where the increments include at least cobalt, cesium, and radium.

39. The system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 35 where the monitoring data from each radiation detection system is processed by dividing the spectrum of the data into increments and adjusting each increment based on the difference in counts between said increments.

40. The system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilities claimed in claim 35 where potassium response is monitored and used to calibrate the radiation detector system.

41. The system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilitates claimed in claim 35 where the steelmaking facility is capable of rejecting steelmaking material because of a potential radiation source based on instructions from the central monitoring facility.

42. The system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 35 where the radiation detection systems comprise scintillation detectors.

43. The system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 35 where the data from the radiation detection systems comprises an energy spectrum corresponding to radiation incident upon the radiation detection systems.

44. The system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 35 where the central monitoring station is capable of setting a threshold radiation level corresponding to an undesired radiation level for each radiation detection system.

45. The system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 35 where the central monitoring station is capable of aggregating data from a plurality of radiation detector systems.

46. The system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 35 where the central monitoring station is in communication with each radiation detection system at a steelmaking facility and capable of providing instruction to an operator of the radiation detection system.

47. The system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 35 where the central monitoring station is capable of analyzing the energy spectrum and determining the composition of a radiation source in the steelmaking material.

48. The system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 35 where the central monitoring station is capable of instructing the steelmaking facility to reject a source of potential radioactive material.

49. The system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 35 where the central monitoring station is capable of monitoring the radiation detection systems for proper operation of the radiation detection systems.

50. The system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 49 where the central monitoring station is capable of interrogating the radiation detection systems for proper operation.

51. The system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 49 where the radiation detection systems are capable of reporting an operating status to the central monitoring station.

52. The system of monitoring radiation levels in multiple steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 35 where the central monitoring station is capable of performing remote diagnostics on the radiation detection systems to determine proper operation of the radiation detection systems.

53. A method of monitoring radiation levels in production facilities comprising:

detecting radiation levels in recycled material at desired locations through a plurality of production facilities by a plurality of radiation detection systems,

communicating data corresponding to detected radiation levels from the radiation detection systems to a central monitor,

analyzing data from the radiation detection systems to determine the nature of a potential radiation source in the recycled material, and

disposing of recycled material containing a potential radiation source according to instructions provided from the central monitor based upon the analysis of the data communicated from the radiation detection systems.

54. The method of monitoring radiation levels in production facilities as claimed in claim 53 comprising the additional steps of:

monitoring the operation of the plurality of radiation detection systems from the central monitor and signaling the facility when a radiation detection system requires maintenance.

55. The method of monitoring radiation levels in production facilities as claimed in claim 53 comprising the additional steps of:

calculating a probability that a potential radiation source will escape detection and contaminate a production facility,

calculating an estimated cost for remediation of a contaminated production facility, and

providing an insurance policy to compensate the production facility for at least a portion of the cost of remediation.

56. The method of monitoring radiation levels in production facilities as claimed in claim 53 comprising the additional steps of:

requiring approval from the central monitor after an alarm has been triggered before the recycled material containing the potential radiation source may be processed, and

providing an insurance policy to compensate the facility for at least a portion of the cost of remediation in the event of contamination of the facility by a radioactive material.

57. A method of monitoring radiation levels in steelmaking facilities comprising:

detecting radiation levels in steelmaking material at desired locations through a plurality of steelmaking facilities by a plurality of radiation detection systems,

communicating data corresponding to detected radiation levels from the radiation detection systems to a central monitor,

analyzing the data from the radiation detection systems to determine the nature of the potential radiation source, and

disposing of steelmaking material containing a potential radiation source according to instructions provided from the central monitor based upon the analysis of the data communicated from the radiation detection systems.

58. The method of monitoring radiation levels in steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 57 comprising the additional steps of:

monitoring the operation of the plurality of radiation detection systems from the central monitor and signaling a steelmaking facility when a radiation detection system requires maintenance.

59. The method of monitoring radiation levels in steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 57 comprising the additional steps of:

calculating a probability that a potential radiation source will escape detection and contaminate a steelmaking facility,

calculating an estimated cost for remediation of a contaminated steelmaking facility, and

providing an insurance policy to compensate the steelmaking facility for at least a portion of the cost of remediation.

60. The method of monitoring radiation levels in steelmaking facilities as claimed in claim 57 comprising the additional steps of:

requiring approval from the central monitor after an alarm has been triggered before the steelmaking material containing the potential radiation source may be processed, and

providing an insurance policy to compensate the steelmaking facility for at least a portion of the cost of remediation in the event of contamination of the steelmaking facility by a radioactive material.