Gross beta determination using a scintillating fiber array detector for drinking water

TL;DR

This paper presents a scintillating fiber array detector capable of real-time gross beta activity measurement in drinking water, with high efficiency and low detection limit, suitable for continuous monitoring.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel scintillating fiber array system for rapid, real-time gross beta detection in drinking water, demonstrating its effectiveness and calibration.

Findings

Background counting rate is 38.31 cps.

Detection efficiency is 0.37 cps per Bq/L.

Detection limit of 1.0 Bq/L within 100 minutes.

Abstract

A scintillating fiber array measurement system for gross beta is developed to achieve real-time monitoring of radioactivity in drinking water. The detector consists of 1,096 scintillating fibers, both sides of the fibers connect to a photomultiplier tube, and they are placed in a stainless steel tank. The detector parameters of working voltage, background counting rate and stability of the detector were tested, and the detection efficiency was calibrated using a standard solution of potassium chloride. Through experiment, the background counting rate of the detector is 38.31 cps and the detection efficiency for $\beta$ particles is 0.37 cps per Bq per liter; the detector can reach its detection limit of 1.0 Bq per liter for $\beta$ particles within 100 minutes without pre-concentration.