Sensors & Electronics
Awards & Recognition
R&D 100 Awards
1998 - Radionuclide Aerosol Sampler/Analyzer (RASA)
Developers: Harry S. Miley, Charles W. Hubbard, A. David McKinnon, Robert C. Thompson, Richard Perkins
Originally designed to give the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty eyes and ears, the Radionuclide Aerosol Sampler/Analyzer (RASA) is a completely automated radionuclide monitoring system that detects airborne radioactive particles. The device can measure debris from nuclear weapons testing, no matter where or when a nuclear weapon was detonated. RASA merges a fully automated mechanical system that traps airborne particulate on filters and moves the filter past a gamma-ray detector with an operating system that continually verifies its operations and communicates data about the particulate to a central data center. RASA's detection component can be tailored to meet a wide variety of monitoring needs-nuclear as well as non-nuclear. Users could range from environmental quality groups to manufacturing plant managers who must monitor and document plant emissions. Pacific Northwest has a license agreement pending with DME Corporation of Orlando, Fla., who manufactures RASA units.
Excerpted from PNNL R&D 100 webpage.
Selected Links to Related Information:
- Related Examples (Same Project)
- Related Websites
- Radionuclide DetectionTechnologies - 2000 FLC Award Winner