The Model 52 Portal Monitor is used for Beta-Gamma personnel contamination monitoring and meets the FEMA standard for Emergency Response Portal Monitoring (FEMA-REP-21). It is designed to be assembled in five minutes or less without tools, and can be quickly disassembled for ease of transportation and storage. All parameters are stored in non-volatile memory, which requires no battery backup. These parameters allow easy operation with minimal setup by minimally trained personnel. The parameters are preset at the factory to detect a 1 µCi 137Cs beta window source in a 10 µR/hr background field, in accordance with the FEMA standard. The Model 52 can be powered by 120 Vac, six “D” cell batteries, or 220 Vac-powered units, which are available as a special order.
The instrument has a “person-counter” integrated into the electronics that increments by one every time a count is completed. It is a four-digit number normally displayed on the LCD display, next to the “READY” message. It also has an RS-232 port that can be used to print out parameter setpoints, background counts, and counts above background.
The portal frame incorporates an array of 18 Geiger-Mueller (GM) detectors positioned around the frame and base. Fourteen GM pancake detectors are located in the frame for monitoring the head and body. Four cylindrical GM detectors are utilized in the base for monitoring the feet.The electronics are microprocessor-based for ease of setup and reliability. Individual LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) mounted in the frame and also on the electronics front panel indicate the specific alarm location. LEDs in the front panel indicate count cycle status. Audible signals accompany the LEDs for additional indication. Detector counts, background, and all parameters may be viewed on the LCD display. All setup is accomplished via pushbuttons on the electronics assembly.
The Model 52 incorporates a summing alarm in addition to the individual channel alarms. This increases the system sensitivity to widespread contamination. If two or more channels have a noticeable increase in counts but do not exceed their alarm threshold, the sum of their counts could exceed the summing alarm.
The Model 52 also has background update and subtract capabilities. The instrument will take a background count and subtract it from the current count. This function helps compensate for fluctuations in background. Background subtract can be turned on or off, the background count time is adjustable, and the background interval time is adjustable. The operator can force the instrument to stop and take a background count at a different interval if desired.
The Model 52 is supplied with a polypropylene weather sleeve to protect against wet weather conditions. Units are also supplied with a rugged, wheeled, and padded transport/storage case for rapid deployment.
