CN114063134A

CN114063134A - Radioactivity measuring device

Info

Publication number: CN114063134A
Application number: CN202110762273.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 温弗里德·劳尔; 马蒂亚斯·哈特; 娜塔莉·沃尔德克; 罗兰·博纳思
Original assignee: Vega Grieshaber KG
Current assignee: Vega Grieshaber KG
Priority date: 2020-07-31
Filing date: 2021-07-06
Publication date: 2022-02-18
Also published as: DE102020209710A1; CN216285745U

Abstract

A radioactivity measuring device (10, 30, 40), comprising: at least one at least partially curved source-containing tube (11, 21) for containing a source of radiation (23); at least one transfer tube (12, 22, 41) for providing a path for at least a portion of the radiation emitted by the radiation source (23) within the transfer tube (12, 22, 41); wherein the source accommodating tube (11, 21) and the transfer tube (12, 22, 41) are arranged relative to each other such that at least a part of the radiation emitted by the radiation source (23) can be guided in a straight line through a material that can be arranged between the radiation source (23) and the distal end of the transfer tube (12, 22, 41) and the path; and wherein the transfer tube (12, 22, 41) is designed as a closed cavity at least in the region of the path; and wherein at least one valve element (16, 32, 42) is provided to effect deflation of the closed cavity.

Description

Radioactivity measuring device

Technical Field

The invention relates to a radioactivity measuring device, the use of a valve element in such a radioactivity measuring device and the use of a pressure sensor element in such a radioactivity measuring device.

Background

Radiometric devices are known in principle from the prior art and can be used, for example, in the process and chemical industries for determining and monitoring density, filling level and/or for limit level monitoring. For example, these measurements may be made continuously and without contact, wherein the material to be measured comprises a fluid, a solid, a suspension or a slurry. Such a measuring device is also suitable for use in extreme environmental conditions, for example in the case of high-temperature, high-pressure, toxic and/or corrosive materials.

Known radioactivity measuring devices can include so-called transport tubes and so-called source-holding tubes. In this case, a radioactive radiation source, in particular a gamma radiation source, can be arranged in the source accommodating tube, wherein the radiation source is arranged such that it can emit directional radiation through the medium and through the transport tube. This radiation can then be detected and evaluated by a corresponding detector arrangement. Such a radioactivity measuring device is known, for example, from EP 2169389 a 1.

Disclosure of Invention

In this context, it has now been found that there is a need for further improvements in such a radioactivity measuring device, and in particular for a radioactivity measuring device which is reliable in operation. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved radiation measuring device, in particular a radiation measuring device which is as reliable as possible in operation.

These and other objects, which are also mentioned in the following description or which can be recognized by a person skilled in the art when reading the present description, are achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims develop the central concept of the invention in a particularly advantageous manner.

The radioactivity measuring device comprises: at least one at least partially curved source-containing tube for containing a source of radiation; and at least one transport tube for providing a path within the transport tube for at least a portion of the radiation emitted by the radiation source; wherein the source containing tube and the transfer tube are arranged relative to each other such that at least a portion of the radiation emitted by the radiation source can be guided in a straight line through a material that can be arranged between the radiation source and the distal end of the transfer tube and the path; and wherein the transfer tube is designed as a closed cavity at least in the region of the path, and wherein at least one valve element is provided to provide a degassing of the closed cavity.

In the present case, the term "radiometric measuring device" is to be understood broadly and includes all measuring devices/apparatuses based on the radiometric principle and having at least one at least partially curved source-accommodating tube and at least one transmission tube. In the present case, the term "source containing tube" is also to be understood broadly and includes any tube suitable for containing a radiation source, preferably a gamma radiation source. The curved portion of the source-containing tube is used to position the radiation source such that the beam path of the radiation source can be guided through the free area between the source-containing tube and the transport tube, wherein the material/medium to be measured can be arranged in this area. In the present case, the term "transport tube" is also to be understood broadly and includes any tube that may provide a path for the emitted radiation and is adapted to prevent penetration of material into the path. In this case, it should be pointed out that the term "tube" is not limited to tubes having a circular cross section here, but encompasses all elongate hollow bodies, for example also hollow bodies having a polygonal cross section which are suitable for providing a radiation source with a corresponding measuring section or a corresponding receptacle. In this case, closed means that the medium cannot penetrate and seep through the walls of the closed cavity. In this case, the distal end means the outer ends of the tubes, wherein one tube has two outer ends each. In this case it should be pointed out that the valve element can be any means for the inlet and outlet of the medium.

The invention is based on the following recognition: by integrating the valve element into the wall of the transfer tube, the radioactivity measuring device can be reliably provided. This is in particular because such integration of the valve element into the transfer pipe enables a venting and thus a pressure reduction. Furthermore, the invention is based on the recognition that: by integrating a pressure sensor into the transfer pipe, leaks can be monitored.

Preferably, the radioactivity measuring device is designed such that the at least one valve element is preferably a manually operable valve element. In this case, the at least one valve element is preferably a pressure relief valve. In this case, preferably, the at least one valve element is arranged in the region of a distal end of the transfer tube, wherein this distal end can preferably be arranged outside the container in the mounted state.

Advantageously, the radioactivity measuring device is designed such that it comprises a pressure sensor element in order to detect the pressure in the closed cavity of the transfer tube. The term "pressure sensor element" is understood to mean any pressure measuring device which can provide conclusions about the pressure of a physical quantity. In this case, the radioactivity measuring device is preferably designed such that at least one pressure sensor element is also arranged on the end face region of the transfer tube, such that the pressure sensor element is also arranged outside the container into which the radioactivity measuring device can be introduced. In this case, the radioactivity measuring device is preferably designed such that the pressure sensor element is preferably arranged adjacent to the radioactivity sensor element of the radioactivity measuring device. Here, the radiation sensor element serves to detect radiation guided through the transmission tube.

Preferably, the radioactivity measuring device is designed such that the at least one pressure sensor element is arranged on a circumferential side of the transfer tube. In this case, the radioactivity measuring device is designed such that the pressure sensor element is preferably arranged adjacent to the at least one valve element.

Preferably, the radiation measuring device is designed such that the radiation measuring device further comprises at least one operating element for operating the valve element as a function of the pressure detected by the at least one pressure sensor element. The actuating element can be an actuating element, which includes, for example, electromechanical, pneumatic, mechanical and hydraulic drive principles, wherein the deflation process can be carried out manually and/or automatically. The air bleeding process is preferably automated.

Preferably, the activity measurement device comprises at least one communication device configured to transmit the pressure detected by the at least one pressure sensor element to the central and/or mobile data processing unit. Here, the transmission may be performed through a wireless or wired communication medium. For example, bluetooth, WLAN, ZigBee, NFC, Wibree, WiMAX, and IrDa, and optical directional radio may be used as the wireless communication medium. Here, an electric conductor or an optical conductor may be used as the wired communication medium.

Preferably, the radioactivity measuring device is designed such that the at least one operating element is configured to operate the at least one valve element in accordance with control commands from the central and/or mobile data processing unit. Such embodiments allow manual or automatic control by a central or mobile data processing unit and may further improve operational reliability.

The invention also relates to the use of a valve element in the above-mentioned radioactivity measuring device for achieving deflation of a closed cavity.

Finally, the invention relates to the use of a pressure sensor element in the above-mentioned radioactivity measuring device for detecting the pressure in a closed cavity.

Drawings

A detailed description of the drawings will be given below.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic partial view of a first preferred embodiment of a radioactivity measuring device according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic partial view of a second preferred embodiment of a radioactivity measuring device according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic partial view of a third preferred embodiment of a radioactivity measuring device according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a schematic partial view of a first preferred embodiment of a radioactivity measuring device 10 according to the present invention. For the basic structure of the radioactivity measuring device and the measuring principle applied, reference is made to EP 2169389 a 1.

The radioactivity measuring device 10 comprises an at least partially curved source containing tube 11 and a transfer tube 12. In the preferred exemplary embodiment shown, the source containing tube 11 is integrated here in the transfer tube 12, i.e. the transfer tube 12 surrounds the source containing tube 11 up to the respective end of the transfer tube 12. In an alternative embodiment, the two tubes can also be arranged adjacent to one another here. Source containment tube 11 extends or protrudes beyond the forward end (vordere end) 17 of transfer tube 12.

The activity measurement device 10 further comprises a first flange element 13 for fastening the activity measurement device 10 to a container wall (not shown). The radiation measuring device 10 further comprises a second flange element 14 in an end face region (burnseitigen Bereich)15 of the transfer tube 12, which serves for fastening a radiation detector (not shown). The radiation detector can be integrated into a housing which has an interface corresponding to the second flange element 14. The housing of the radiation detector can be mounted pivotably on the second flange element 14. A radiation source (not shown), preferably a gamma radiator, can be introduced or extracted into the source containing tube 11 when the housing is in the open position. The radioactivity measuring device 10 further comprises a valve element 16, which is preferably located in the end face region 15 of the transfer tube 12. Valve member 16 is used to deflate transfer tube 12. The overpressure in transfer pipe 12 can be reduced by venting. When the transfer tube 12 is opened, for example for the purpose of removing a radiation source, overpressure may result in a potential hazard in the form of an explosive shock of the pivotable housing.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic partial view of a second preferred embodiment of a radioactivity measuring device 20 according to the present invention. The radioactivity measuring device 20 also comprises a source containing tube 21 and a transfer tube 22. The source accommodating tube 21 is for accommodating a radiation source 23. The radiation source 23 is moved together with the positioning element 24 inside the source containing tube 21 into the front distal region of the source containing tube 21. The source containing tube 21 and the transfer tube 22 are arranged such that the optical path 25 of the radiation source 23 can be guided in a straight line through the material 26 and the path of the transfer tube 22. The activity measuring device 20 is introduced into a container 27 having a flange element 28 for fastening a first flange element (not shown) of the activity measuring device 20. The flange system 36 comprises a second flange element (not separately shown) of the transfer pipe 22 and an associated interface (not separately shown) of the detector 31.

In contrast to the radioactivity measuring device 10 shown in fig. 1, the measuring device 20 additionally comprises a pressure sensor element 29. The pressure sensor element is preferably mounted on the end face region 30 of the transfer tube 22 adjacent to the probe 31. Here, the pressure sensor element 29 serves to detect the pressure in the delivery tube 22. The valve element 32 is located in the end face region 30 of the transfer tube 22 on the circumferential side of the transfer tube 22.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic partial view of a third preferred embodiment of a radioactivity measuring device 40 according to the present invention. The activity measuring device 40 also includes a transfer tube 41, a valve element 42 and a pressure sensor element 43.

In contrast to the radioactivity measuring device 20 shown in fig. 2, in the radioactivity measuring device 40, both the valve element 42 and the pressure sensor element 43 are arranged on the circumferential surface of the transfer tube 41 in the end face region 44 of the transfer tube 41.

The invention is not, however, limited to the preferred exemplary embodiments described above, as long as it is covered by the subject matter of the appended claims. In this case, in particular, the sensor element and the valve element can be connected to the transport pipe by any joining method, for example, a welding method, a bolting method, an adhesive method, a pressing method, soldering or a hybrid method of the above. The flange elements can be connected by bolting, soldering or plug-in locking elements, for example. In addition, it should be noted that the terms "comprising" and "having" do not exclude any other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. In addition, the term unit should be understood broadly, in particular the term should not be understood as meaning that the individual units must be designed as one piece. The individual units may also be positioned differently. Finally, different units may also be combined into one assembly. It should also be pointed out that characteristics or steps which have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps of other exemplary embodiments described above.

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority from german patent application 102020209710.0 filed on 31/7/2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

List of reference numerals

10. 30, 40 radioactivity measuring device

11. 21 source containing tube

12. 22, 41 transfer pipe

23 radiation source

17 front end of transfer pipe

16. 32, 42 valve element

13 Flange element

14 Flange element

25 optical path

26 materials

27 Container

28 Flange element

36 flange system

31 Detector

29. 43 pressure sensor element

15. 30, 44 end surface area

Claims

1. A radioactivity measuring device (10, 30, 40), comprising:

at least one at least partially curved source-containing tube (11, 21) for containing a source of radiation (23);

at least one transfer tube (12, 22, 41) for providing a path for at least a portion of the radiation emitted by the radiation source (23) within the transfer tube (12, 22, 41),

wherein the source accommodating tube (11, 21) and the transfer tube (12, 22, 41) are arranged relative to each other such that at least a part of the radiation emitted by the radiation source (23) can be guided in a straight line through a material which can be arranged between the radiation source (23) and a distal end of the transfer tube (12, 22, 41) and the path, and

wherein the transfer tube (12, 22, 41) is designed as a closed cavity at least in the region of the path, and

wherein at least one valve element (16, 32, 42) is provided in order to achieve a deflation of the closed cavity.

2. The radioactivity measuring device (10, 30, 40) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one valve element (16, 32, 42) is a manually operable valve element (16, 32, 42).

3. The radioactivity measuring device (10, 30, 40) as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one valve element (16, 32, 42) is a pressure relief valve.

4. The radioactivity measuring device (10, 30, 40) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one valve element (16, 32, 42) is disposed in the region of a distal end of the transfer tube (12, 22, 41).

5. The radioactivity measuring device (10, 30, 40) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the radioactivity measuring device (10, 30, 40) further comprises at least one pressure sensor element (29, 43) for detecting the pressure in the closed cavity.

6. The radioactivity measuring device (10, 30, 40) as set forth in claim 5, wherein the at least one pressure sensor element is disposed on an end surface area of the transmission tube (12, 22, 41).

7. The radioactivity measuring device (10, 30, 40) according to any of claims 5 and 6, wherein the pressure sensor element is preferably arranged adjacent to a radioactivity sensor element of the radioactivity measuring device.

8. The radioactivity measurement device (10, 30, 40) as set forth in any of claims 5-7, wherein the at least one pressure sensor element (29, 43) is disposed on a circumferential side of the transfer tube (12, 22, 41).

9. The radioactivity measuring device (10, 30, 40) as set forth in any of claims 5-8, wherein the pressure sensor element (29, 43) is preferably disposed adjacent to the at least one valve element (16, 32, 42).

10. The radioactivity measuring device (10, 30, 40) as set forth in any of claims 5-9, wherein the radioactivity measuring device (10, 30, 40) further comprises at least one operating element to operate the at least one valve element (16, 32, 42) as a function of pressure detected by the at least one pressure sensor element (29, 43).

11. The radioactivity measurement device (10, 30, 40) as set forth in any of claims 5-10, wherein the radioactivity measurement device (10, 30, 40) further comprises at least one communication device configured to transmit pressure detected by the at least one pressure sensor element (29, 43) to a central or mobile data processing unit.

12. The radioactivity measurement device (10, 30, 40) as set forth in any of claims 5-11, wherein the at least one operating element is configured to operate the at least one valve element (16, 32, 42) in accordance with control commands from the central or mobile data processing unit.

13. Use of a valve element (16, 32, 42) in a radioactivity measuring device according to any of claims 1 to 12 for achieving deflation of a closed cavity.

14. Use of a pressure sensor element (29, 43) in a radiometric device according to any of claims 1 to 12 for detecting the pressure in a closed cavity.