WO2017216639A1

WO2017216639A1 - Device for determining radionuclide content in air

Info

Publication number: WO2017216639A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/000934
Authority: WO
Inventors: Игорь МИСЮЧЕНКО
Original assignee: Игорь МИСЮЧЕНКО
Priority date: 2016-06-17
Filing date: 2017-06-15
Publication date: 2017-12-21
Also published as: RU2016124148A

Abstract

Proposed is a device for determining the content (presence) of radionuclides in ambient air. The device comprises an electrostatic electrode open to the ambient air; a sensor of alpha-particles and/or beta-particles and/or gamma-rays, which is disposed adjacent to the electrostatic electrode; a processing unit, intended for processing a sensor signal; two or more connecting electrodes, connected to an electrical network; and a power supply unit. The power supply unit provides a constant electrical voltage on the electrostatic electrode relative to the connecting electrodes, exceeding the constant component and/or the actual value of a variable component of a voltage between the connecting electrodes. The technical result consists in enhancing the sensitivity and effectiveness of determining radionuclide content in ambient air, reducing the dimensions and mass of a device, and removing components necessary for creating an airflow, for instance pumps, fans, etc.

Description

DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE CONTENT OF RADIONUCLIDES IN

AIR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices for determining

(registration, detection) of the content (e.g., availability) of radionuclides, i.e. radioactive isotopes, i.e. nuclides whose nuclei are unstable and undergo radioactive decay in the air near devices, in particular, daughter decay products (DPR) of radon and radon itself, as well as in some variants of determining a number of parameters of the content of radionuclides in ambient air, for example, their decay frequency, concentration and / or bulk activity.

State of the art

A device for determining the airborne content of a radionuclide such as radon is known from the patent RU2008694 by detecting alpha particles emitted by daughter radon decay products, which are also radionuclides. The device comprises an air chamber in which an alpha particle detector is located. Air is supplied to the chamber through an aerosol filter. The chamber is made in the form of folding telescopic rings, thanks to which it can be folded and expanded, thereby ensuring air supply into the chamber (i.e., the chamber also acts as a pump).

To ensure sufficient sensitivity and accuracy of measurements, the camera should have a sufficiently large size. In particular, the minimum characteristic linear size of the camera, such as height or diameter, must be more than 30 mm to ensure the minimum operability of the device, and in order to realize the potential sensitivity, the camera must have a size of 80 to 120 mm or more.

One of its main drawbacks that prevent its widespread use as a household appliance is the large size of the described device, which is necessary to ensure sufficient sensitivity. As a result of this, they occupy a large amount of space in a room and may not always be placed in it due to restrictions on the space available for equipment placement, or due to a conflict with interior conditions or design requirements. Another important disadvantage of the device of the prior art is the need to ensure the flow of air from the surrounding space into the air chamber. In this device, this can be done due to the fact that the camera, made in the form of folding telescopic rings, can be folded, thereby reducing its volume and pushing the air from the inside out, and expand, so that its volume increases and air is supplied from the outside to the inside. In other devices of the prior art, this can be achieved using ventilation systems or pumps, which also increase the mass and size of the devices and / or create restrictions on the possible installation locations of such devices.

Ensuring the flow of air with the help of mechanically moving devices degrades the overall dimensions of the devices for determining ionizing radiation and particles, leads to an increased cost of such devices and a decrease in their reliability.

Disclosure of invention

The objective of the present invention is to increase the sensitivity (efficiency) and / or reduce the size of devices designed to determine (record, detect) the content of radionuclides in the air and, in some embodiments, determine (evaluate) a number of parameters, for example, decay frequency, concentration and / or volumetric activity of radon / thoron in ambient air. Important factors that are considered when solving this problem are the cost, weight and reliability of the device.

The object of the present invention is achieved by a device for detecting radionuclides in ambient air, including: at least one electrostatic electrode mounted to allow radionuclides to enter from air near the device (i.e., open to ambient air); at least one sensor mounted to allow detection of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation emitted by radionuclides on the electrostatic electrode and / or near the electrostatic electrode (i.e. located near the electrostatic electrode no further than the mean free path of alpha particles and / or beta particles); a processing unit configured to receive and process the sensor signal; at least two connecting electrodes made with the possibility of electrical connection with the electric network; and a power unit configured to receiving electrical voltage from the connecting electrodes and supplying at least one of the electrostatic electrodes of electric voltage with a constant component relative to one or more connecting electrodes, the absolute value of which is greater than the absolute value of the DC component (including for DC networks) and / or a variable component (for example, its rms value, including for alternating voltage networks) the voltage between the connecting electrodes.

In a preferred embodiment, the constant component of the electrical voltage on the electrostatic electrode relative to one or more connecting electrodes in absolute value has a value of not less than 3 CB and not more than 3 CB (possibly not more than 2500V) or not less than 500V (maybe not less than 600V) and not more than 2000V, preferably not less than 1000V and not more than 1500V.

The sensor is preferably made in the form of at least one ionization chamber. In an advantageous embodiment of the device, the at least one electrostatic electrode is one of the electrodes of at least one open air ionization chamber.

In some embodiments, the device may include a communication module configured to transmit a sensor signal and / or results (particle transit events, time intervals between events, the number of events in a given time interval, activity level, etc.) of processing the sensor signal in the processing unit. In private embodiments, the device may include a communication module configured to receive and / or transmit control signals. The communication module may include a radiating infrared diode and be configured to transmit control signals by means of a radiating infrared diode.

Using the present invention, such a technical result is achieved as increasing the sensitivity (efficiency) of the device while maintaining or reducing its dimensions. In another formulation, this technical result can be represented as a decrease in the dimensions of the device while maintaining or increasing its sensitivity (efficiency) in determining (recording, detecting) the content of radionuclides in ambient air, including by detecting alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation emitted by radionuclides (for example, radon or direct radon), collected on an electrostatic electrode, and, in in some embodiments, determining a number of parameters, for example, decay frequency, concentration and / or volumetric activity of radionuclides (e.g. radon) in ambient air.

The technical result of the present invention is achieved due to the fact that the device in accordance with the present invention more efficiently, in comparison with the prior art, provides the deposition of radionuclides, such as radon, DPR radon and others, on the elements of the device, which leads to more detectable (recorded ) alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation emitted by radionuclides per unit time due to the greater number of radionuclides deposited on the elements of the device. As a result, it is possible to more accurately determine the frequency of decays, the concentration (volumetric activity) of radionuclides and, in particular, radon, which are indicated, inter alia, by the amount or activity of its DPR.

In addition, continuous determination of the content of radionuclides in the ambient air and determination of their characteristics is ensured, since the radionuclides continue to be deposited on the elements of the device while already settled radionuclides emit alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation detected by this device .

A more effective deposition of radionuclides (including such as radon and radon DPR) on the elements of the device is achieved due to the fact that the electric potential of the electrostatic electrode has a constant component relative to the environment, in particular, the electrical network. Due to this potential, the electric field created by the electrostatic electrode weakens more slowly depending on the distance and, therefore, has a voltage sufficient to ensure the deposition of radionuclides on the elements of the device in accordance with the present invention, from a larger volume of ambient air compared with the prior art.

Another technical result of the present invention is that to determine the characteristics of the content of radionuclides (including radon and its DPR) in the ambient air, such as decay frequency, concentration, volumetric activity, does not require elements that provide air flow, such as pumps , fans, etc., which leads to a decrease in the size, mass and cost of the device, as well as an increase in its reliability, since it is not necessary to introduce air into the device to determine the content of radionuclides in the air, but rather o introduce radionuclides or microparticles into the device with radionuclides deposited on them from the air. An additional technical result is the safe operation of the device in accordance with the present invention. In addition, in private versions, it is possible to further reduce the cost of the device when using an ionization chamber as a sensor (or, in other words, when performing an electrostatic electrode in the form of one of the electrodes of an ionization chamber placed near the sensor, which mainly uses a concentration electrode of the ionization chamber) .

Achieving all of the above technical results was made possible by combining an electrostatic trap (made in the form of an electrostatic electrode) and an alpha-particle sensor (mainly made in the form of an ionization chamber) as part of a radionuclide detector connected to an electric network. Due to this, it is possible to eliminate the need for a pump while ensuring the effective deposition of radionuclides, such as daughter products of decay (DPR) of radon and others, into an electrostatic trap - this reduces the cost, weight and size of the device while ensuring sufficient sensitivity. The use of an ionization chamber eliminates expensive alpha particle sensors (pin diodes, Geiger-Mueller counters).

Brief Description of the Drawings

In FIG. 1 shows a general view of a device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

In FIG. 2 shows a circuit board with components of a device in accordance with a possible embodiment of the invention.

In FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a device according to one possible embodiment of the invention.

The implementation of the invention

Further, the present invention is described in more detail using the accompanying figures. The figures referred to in the description, as well as the description itself, are presented solely for the purpose of explaining the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope and / or essence of the invention, which are defined by the claims. At the same time, the characteristics indicated in the description and / or depicted in the figures, when Necessities may be included in the claims in order to ensure patentability.

Although the figures are intended to explain the same invention, the objects presented therein are not necessarily compatible, complement or form part of each other, as they may relate to different embodiments, the explanation of which will make it possible to more clearly understand the essence of the invention. At the same time, under certain conditions, they can be combined, combined, complement, form part of each other or represent images of objects that implement a single embodiment of the invention.

The words “comprising”, “including”, “having”, “contains”,

“Includes”, “consists”, “has”, “is part of”, etc. used to characterize the invention are synonymous and do not limit the composition of the device, its components / elements, features, components, etc. p., and also do not indicate the mandatory presence of other signs and do not exclude the possibility of the presence of other components / elements, signs, components, etc., including those not mentioned, unless the contrary is noted in the description.

In the description can be presented various terms that characterize the same elements / components of the device or their properties, as synonyms. However, it should be borne in mind that some synonyms can provide a different scope of protection when specifying them in the claims, which can be used to ensure patentability by replacing synonyms or entering features in the formula in the form of one or another synonym.

Further, when describing the invention, reference is made to the DPR of radon, which are, like radon itself, radionuclides. It is necessary to understand that in addition to the radon DPR, the device in accordance with the present invention can determine the content in the air of other radionuclides in addition to radon DPR, for example, Toron DPR and others. However, in view of the fact that radar and radon DPR are radionuclides that usually have the highest concentration (volumetric activity) in air, a description of possible embodiments and the principle of the device’s operation is performed with respect to radon DPR.

In addition, since the most convenient way to determine the radar DPR is to detect alpha particles emitted by radon DPR, the device and the detection process are described with respect to alpha particles, although other emitted particles can be used to determine the content (such as beta particles) and radiation (such as gamma radiation and x-rays).

In FIG. 1 shows a general view of a device for determining (recording, detecting) the content of radionuclides in ambient air in accordance with one possible embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1 of the embodiment of the invention, the device is housed in a housing 101. The housing is preferably made using a dielectric material, such as plastic or polymer, in order to provide electrical protection.

In other embodiments of the invention, the device may not have a housing or be housed in housings and / or cavities formed by other objects that are not part of the device, but with which the device can connect (mechanically and / or electrically) or with which it can be located next to it. At the same time, the use of the housing, fully (subject to the electrostatic electrode, see below), partially or on some sides of the enclosing / closing elements / components of the device in accordance with the present invention provides mechanical and / or electrical protection of both the device itself and surrounding objects, including living creatures, which include humans and animals.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the embodiment, the housing 101 has on one side (back) a connecting element 102, which is an electric plug for plugging into an electrical outlet with which it forms a plug connection. The plug connector 102 includes two connector electrodes 121 in the form of two pins that, when inserted into an electrical outlet, are connected by sockets (terminals) of the outlet electrically connected to wires or other electrically conductive current-carrying elements of the electrical network. Due to this plug connection, a reliable mechanical and electrical connection of the pins and sockets of the socket is ensured, as a result of which the voltage of the electrical network is reliably transmitted to the connecting element 102 and the device in accordance with the present invention as a whole.

The widespread occurrence of such plug-in-socket connections allows the device to be connected to the electrical network in almost any house, room or space equipped with an electrical network with sockets. At the same time, it must be borne in mind that there are several standards for such plug connections. As shown in FIG. 1 option, the plug roughly corresponds to the European standard, although there may be plugs and other standards are used (for example, the USA or other countries), depending on which countries are used or which plugs the device is intended for.

In addition, in FIG. 1 plug has two pins, but the connecting element may have a larger number of connecting electrodes, depending on the standard. In particular, the European standard plug may have electrodes on the sides of the housing (ground electrodes) in addition to two pins in the base of the housing, and forks of some standards may contain three or more pins in the base of the housing. All of these possible modifications are included in the scope of the invention, provided that the connecting element contains at least two connecting electrodes and is made with the possibility of electrical connection with the electric network using the specified at least two connecting electrodes.

In other possible embodiments of the invention, the connecting element may comprise or comprise two or more connecting electrodes, which may be either pins or other electrically conductive objects. For example, the connecting electrodes can be terminals, clamps, connectors, pads for connecting (mechanical, thermal (including soldering in some embodiments), chemical or other suitable methods) with wires or other electrically conductive objects that make up the electrical networks or connecting / connecting to it.

For example, in one embodiment, the device may be a power outlet or a part of such an outlet. In this case, the connecting element will be the base of the socket, on / in which the connecting electrodes are placed, for example, in the form of connectors, an example of which are screw (threaded) clamps for the supply wires of the electric network, and an insulating element covering the functional part can be considered a case outlets in the case of an overhead outlet or closing it in the case of a plug-in (built-in) outlet.

This embodiment of the device ensures that it does not stand out in a room or any other place where electrical outlets can be installed, as a result of which there is no need to connect another device in accordance with the present invention and, accordingly, the outlet remains free to use and the appearance remains the same what he thought before installing the device in accordance with the present invention.

In another possible embodiment, the device can be connected to the electric network using a cable (wires, cord), made with the possibility of connecting one end to the electric network in one way or another (for example, by installing a plug on it for plugging into an outlet) and connected or connected the other end with the connecting electrodes of the device, which are, for example, clamps, connectors or any other suitable elements.

In this case, it is possible to move the device in accordance with the present invention to the extent permitted by the length of the connecting cable (wires, cord). To implement the present invention, the specified cable or cord must contain at least two electrically conductive elements (for example, conductors or wires).

In all of the above embodiments, the invention should be deemed to have been implemented if there are two or more connecting electrodes in the device that are part of or forming a connecting element, since the presence of such connecting electrodes makes it possible to connect the device in accordance with the present invention with an electrical network.

In the housing of the device in accordance with one of the possible embodiments of the present invention also provides one (or more) additional connecting element, which is, for example, a socket of a plug connection. Such a socket may correspond to the European standard, or to the standards of other countries (for example, the USA) depending on the standard of the plug, for which the device is intended for inclusion in an additional connecting element.

In addition, instead of the socket or in addition to it, the additional connecting element can be or contain any other connector or electrodes, which can be pins, terminals, clamps, pads for connecting with wires, connecting elements or other electrically conductive objects of other devices and devices .

The presence of such an additional connecting element makes it possible to connect other devices and devices to the device in accordance with the present invention, as a result of which it can connect not only the device in accordance with the present invention, but also other devices. Thus, if there is an additional connecting element, the electric network (its supply wires, connector) does not deal only with the device in accordance with the present invention, it can be used to supply electric voltage through it and for other devices in the same place without providing an additional connector in the electric network.

In addition, if there is an additional connecting element, the device in accordance with the present invention in one of the possible options can control the connection of the electrodes of the additional connecting element to the electrodes of the connecting element. Thus, the device can control the supply of electrical voltage from the electrical network when connected to it using connecting electrodes in an additional connecting element and, thus, in an external device or device that can be connected to an additional connecting element of the device in accordance with the present invention. For this, the device in accordance with the invention may contain switching elements / components (relays, thyristors, etc.) connected between the connecting electrodes and the additional connecting element and controlled either by the user or by the control circuits.

The connecting element and the additional connecting element can correspond to the same standard of the plug connection, although they are different types of connecting elements: in the preferred embodiment, the connecting element is a plug, and the additional connecting element is a socket. In this configuration, the device in accordance with the present invention is a “socket repeater”: it is plugged into a socket and itself contains the same socket or socket into which a plug of the same standard can be plugged.

In other embodiments of the device in accordance with the present invention, the plug and socket standards may vary, allowing external devices having plugs of one standard to be connected through the device in accordance with the invention into sockets of another standard. In addition, the types of the connecting element and the additional connecting element, i.e. one of them may be one of the parts of the plug, and the other is not, or vice versa, or none of them may be part of the plug. Such configurations allow you to change the types of connections, then there is a device in accordance with the present invention can serve as an adapter or adapter.

In addition to transmitting electrical power without conversion, the device in accordance with the present invention can convert a number of power supply parameters, for example, a voltage value, from an alternating voltage to a constant voltage or vice versa, a voltage frequency, and the like. In particular, the present device in some embodiments can perform the functions of a power supply, for which purpose, in addition to a plug for connection to an electric network, it can include a socket (for example, a socket or female connector) with a reduced voltage, the value of which can have standard values (for example, 3 , 3V, 5V, 6V, 9V, 12V, etc.) or be adjustable. For example, it can be a 5V USB connector, which can include connecting cables for charging phones, smartphones, etc.

It is also possible that the types of the connecting element and the additional connecting element are the same, but are not plug-in. For example, it can be a base type connection using a threaded fastening method (for example, by screwing an electric lamp into a cartridge). In other embodiments, these may include bayonet type, bayonet type, and other types known in the art. In accordance with the above description, these types of connectors can be not only the same for the connecting element and the additional connecting element, but also differ or be combined.

In an embodiment of the device in accordance with the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the housing 101 comprises a window 104, which is a cutout or several cutouts in the wall of the housing. The window is necessary so that particles with radar DPR, as well as radon itself from the air surrounding the device in the housing, can fall into the housing and deposited on the electrostatic electrode. Thanks to the window, the electrostatic electrode located in the housing is open to ambient air, that is, radar DPRs can be deposited on the electrostatic electrode when a constant electric potential or potential with a constant component is applied to it.

In general, the housing is not an essential element for the device in accordance with the present invention. Other elements necessary for the implementation of the invention and indicated in the independent claim may be placed in the housings of other devices or in cavities, formed by other objects or devices. In addition, the elements of the device required for the implementation of the present invention can be placed outdoors, i.e. without case. In such cases, the electrostatic electrode will be open, that is, accessible to ambient air and radionuclides, to the maximum extent - ambient air will surround the electrostatic electrode from all sides (with the possible exception of the circuit board on which the electrostatic electrode is placed, if one is provided).

However, such a completely open arrangement of the electrostatic electrode, as well as possibly other elements / components of the device in accordance with the present invention is unsafe, since the high electrical voltages generated / induced on the electrostatic electrode and other elements / components of the device, such as connecting electrodes, power supply, connecting conductors and others, when the device is connected to the electric network, can be dangerous to human life and health and may interfere s normal operation or disabling various devices and instruments in case of tangency of such elements / components of the present device, under high voltage.

In connection with the danger of the completely open location of the electrostatic electrode, measures are necessary to ensure electrical safety, which consists in preventing the possibility of touching the electrostatic electrode and other elements / components of the device. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, this is ensured by placing the device in the housing 101. Other options for ensuring electrical safety, which can be used both with and without a housing, will be described later.

Thus, the electrostatic electrode must, on the one hand, be open to the surrounding air, and on the other hand, it must be protected from physical contact with it for people and various devices. The placement of the device in the housing prevents contact with the electrostatic electrode and other elements of the device, and the openness of the electrostatic electrode is provided in the embodiment of FIG. 1 using window 104.

Since the window 104 has dimensions sufficient for passage through it and subsequent contact with the electrostatic electrode of body parts or electrically conductive objects, the protective strip 141 is made in the window 104, the slots 142 between them, and also between the stripes 141 and the edge of the window 104 in the housing 101 provide openness electrostatic electrode located in the housing outside the window 104. Instead of strips 141, various nets, fabrics, films and other materials can be used that do not impede the passage of radionuclides (such as radon and other radar) and / or airborne particles (eg dust) with radionuclides on them into the housing to the electrostatic electrode. In other embodiments, the openness of the electrostatic electrode located in the housing to the surrounding air may be provided by openings of various sizes and shapes, including slots, cutouts, and the like.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2 and 3 illustrate the design and principle of operation of the device in accordance with the invention. In FIG. 2 shows a circuit board with components of a device in accordance with a possible embodiment of the invention. It can be housed in a device case similar to that shown in FIG. 1. At the same time, the board shown can perform all the functions of the device as shown, without the housing, and is a complete device in accordance with the present invention.

The board 201 is a circuit board, which can be made of dielectric material, for example, in the form of a printed circuit board with foil tracks. The board 201 is intended, on the one hand, for fastening to it and for connecting the elements / components of the device in an appropriate manner, and on the other hand, for fastening in the case or on other objects.

On the board 201 there are two connecting electrodes 202 forming the connecting element in the form of die clamps (groove clamps) into which, for example, wires can be inserted and secured, which, in turn, can be connected to the plug of the plug connector for inclusion in the electrical network or be wires of an electric network by themselves. As the electrodes 202, other types of clamps, sockets, and connectors can be used, as well as pads, wire terminators, or directly exposed wires.

When placing the circuit board 20 shown in FIG. 2, in the housing 101 shown in FIG. 1, the connecting electrodes 202 of the circuit board 201 can be connected to the connecting electrodes 121 of the plug 102 using conductors. This, however, is a particular embodiment of the device, since it is not necessary to use the circuit board shown in FIG. 2, and in turn, it is not necessary to use the housing shown in FIG. 1, or the housing in general, since the embodiments of the device shown in FIG. 1 and 2 (as well as in Fig. 3) are shown for illustrative purposes only and may be replaced or changed, used individually or in conjunction.

On the circuit board 201 in FIG. 2, a power supply unit 203 is located near the connecting electrodes 202, electrically connected to the connecting electrodes 202. When the device is connected to the electric network using the connecting electrodes, the voltage is supplied through the connecting electrodes 202 to the power supply unit 203. The power supply unit 203 consists of two modules, one of which is a high voltage module 231 and another low voltage module 232.

The high voltage module 231 is connected to the connecting electrodes 202 and through them when the device is connected to the mains, the voltage 231 is supplied to the module 231. The high voltage module 231 converts the incoming electrical voltage into a constant electrical voltage or an electrical voltage with a constant (in time) component. The resulting electrical voltage with a constant component (constant voltage is its special case when there is only a constant component, and there are no alternating components) from the high voltage module 231 is supplied to the electrostatic electrode 204.

The presence of a constant component in the voltage between the electrostatic electrode and one or more connecting electrodes and, mainly, its value can be determined in several ways. The formula for the average value of the voltage corresponding to the constant component looks as follows:

where U _c is the average value (constant component) of the voltage; T is the period of time during which the measurement is carried out (for periodic processes - the repetition period); u (t) is the dependence of voltage on time. Numerical integration, which allows to obtain the average voltage in accordance with the above formula, can be done by summing the samples of the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) divided by the number of summed samples (which corresponds to the measurement period, because the samples are taken at certain intervals of time).

Integration can also be accomplished using electronic components integrated into integrating circuits known in the art. For example, an RC chain with a constant time selected to reduce or eliminate the influence of the periodic process on the measurement result. The result at the output of such an integrating circuit can be measured and used to determine the magnitude of the DC component.

Integrating chains are a type of low-pass filter. Other low-pass filters known in the art in a similar manner can be used to determine the DC component. In addition, voltage spectrum analyzers can be used, which, as one of the components of the spectrum, provide a constant component value.

The constant component of the voltage can be measured directly with a DC voltmeter if the voltage between the electrostatic electrode and one of the connecting electrodes is constant (possibly with some pulsating component). The fulfillment of this condition depends on the relative which connecting electrode the voltage is measured.

The electrical networks to which the devices in accordance with the present invention are to be connected (preferably household networks made in homes, offices and other similar premises) transmit for household consumers mainly alternating voltage on the phase wires relative to the neutral wire or the grounded wire. When measuring the voltage between the electrostatic electrode, on which a constant electric potential is created, and a zero (neutral) or grounded wire, there will be no periodic voltage fluctuations or they will be small. However, when measuring the voltage between the electrostatic electrode and the phase wire, periodic voltage fluctuations transmitted by the phase wire relative to the neutral or grounded wire will introduce an alternating component into the measured voltage, the influence of which on the measurement result depends on the ratio of the measured constant voltage and the amplitude of the periodic voltage fluctuations, as well as possibly from a measurement method.

In addition to the DC component, the voltage at the electrostatic electrode can also have an AC component, i.e. not only a constant voltage can be applied to the electrostatic electrode, but also other types of voltages, which are a combination of constant and variable components, for example, it can be a ripple voltage, etc. A variable component can be observed in the voltage at the electrostatic electrode relative to one connecting electrode (for example, connected to a phase wire or a neutral or neutral or grounded conductor) or relative to several connecting electrodes when connected to an electric network.

In the event that the high voltage module generates a constant voltage on the electrostatic electrode with respect to the neutral (neutral) and / or grounded wire, an alternating component will be present relative to the phase wire on the electrostatic electrode, since the phase wire itself transfers an alternating voltage. Conversely, if the high voltage module generates a constant voltage on the electrostatic electrode relative to the phase wire voltage, then this voltage on the electrostatic electrode will contain an alternating voltage component relative to the zero and / or grounded wire, corresponding to the alternating phase voltage. If the alternating component of the voltage at the electrostatic electrode does not correspond to the phase voltage, then the alternating components (in the general case, not coinciding) of the voltage at the electrostatic electrode will be observed both with respect to the phase wire and with respect to the neutral and / or grounded wire.

When applying an electric voltage with a constant component to the electrostatic electrode with respect to at least one of the connecting electrodes when connecting the device to the network, an electric field with a constant component is established in the space between the electrostatic electrode and the wires of the electric network, the corresponding DC component of the voltage across the electrostatic electrode with respect to one or more wires (or other x conductors transmitting current and voltage) of the electrical network. Since the voltage is a potential difference, this means that the electrostatic electrode has acquired an electric potential with a constant component (or, in a particular case, a constant electric potential) relative to one or more wires of the electric network.

The magnitude of the DC component of the voltage (in absolute value) on the electrostatic electrode relative to one or more connecting electrodes is predominantly greater (in absolute value) the effective value or amplitude of the variable component and / or constant component (also in absolute value) of the voltage between the connecting electrodes. In order to determine the use of the present invention, the voltage between each connecting electrodes is taken into account, if there are more than two. That is, the constant component of the voltage (its absolute value) on the electrostatic electrode of the relative one or more connecting electrodes should be compared with the actual value or amplitude of the variable and / or the constant component (its absolute value) of the voltage between the connecting electrodes, which can be connected to the wires of the electric network . In particular, for comparison, voltages can be taken between phase and neutral wires, phase and ground wires, neutral and ground wires, if there is voltage between them.

In a preferred embodiment, the voltage at the electrostatic electrode with respect to a specific connecting electrode is compared with the voltage between the same defined connecting electrode and another connecting electrode. At the same time, the voltage between the connecting electrodes that are different from the specified specific connecting electrode can be taken into account, if there are more than two. The choice of connecting electrodes to determine the voltage between them and the connecting electrode to determine the voltage on the electrostatic electrode relative to it depends on the technique, which should be formed on the basis of reasonable initial assumptions. The voltage on the electrostatic electrode relative to several connecting electrodes can be determined in cases where the constant components of the potentials of these electrodes are the same, or when all measurement options are enumerated to determine the presence of the indicated characteristic for each connecting electrode.

The voltage, depending on the connection of the measuring device, may have a positive or negative sign. The voltages and their components indicated in the present description, as well as their ratios, mainly relate to the magnitude of the voltage regardless of its sign, that is, to the magnitude of the voltage modulo (absolute value). Thus, if it is indicated that the DC component of the voltage between the electrostatic electrode and one or more connecting electrodes is greater than the voltage (variable and / or DC component) between the connecting electrodes, this means that the constant component of the voltage at the electrostatic electrode can be greater than the numerical value of the voltage between the connecting electrodes, if the voltages are taken with a "+", or less than the numerical value of the voltage between the connecting electrodes, if the voltages are taken with a "-".

In other words, the constant component of the potential of the electrostatic electrode can be greater than the constant component of the potential of one or more connecting electrodes by an amount exceeding the numerical value of the voltage (variable and / or constant components) between the connecting electrodes, if the voltages are taken with the “+” sign, or less than the constant component of the potential of one or more connecting electrodes by an amount exceeding the numerical (absolute) value of the voltage (variable and / or of constant components) between the connecting electrodes, if the voltages are taken with a “-” sign.

Thus, voltage can be applied to the electrostatic electrode both with a positive DC component and with a negative one. In a preferred embodiment, the constant component has a negative sign, to ensure effective deposition of charged particles suspended in air. In the event that a voltage with a negative DC component is applied to the electrostatic electrode, then DPR of radon (and, possibly, other radionuclides) is deposited on it, since the formation of DPR occurs mainly in the form of ions, the formed ions have a positive charge and are attracted to the electrostatic electrode with a negative DC component of the electrical voltage. As a result of the accumulation of the DPR, the readings obtained become cumulative, since the sensor will mainly detect alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation emitted by radionuclides deposited on the electrostatic electrode.

Cumulative readings have an advantage over non-cumulative ones in that they are larger in size, which means the device is more sensitive, because radionuclides can be accumulated at their low concentration in air and due to this an estimate of their concentration is obtained, which cannot be obtained by other methods. In addition, a device for determining the content of radionuclides from the accumulated radionuclides deposited on the electrostatic electrode, provides more accurate data. If a voltage with a positive DC component is applied to the electrostatic electrode, then the DPR of radon (and, possibly, other radionuclides) are repelled from the electrostatic electrode, since, as noted earlier, they also have a positive charge, and as a result, the sensor can mainly detect only alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation emitted by negatively charged DPR radionuclides or radionuclides that do not have a charge (for example, radon). Such radionuclides can be either deposited on the electrostatic electrode, or located near the electrostatic electrode (for example, inside the electric chamber) after the flow of dust particles and other microparticles entrained or transferred them to the electrostatic electrode. Determination of the content of radionuclides in the air without accumulation (non-cumulative readings) have an advantage in the speed of reading, because no time is required for the accumulation of radionuclides and the data obtained are directly related to the current moment.

At the same time, it should be noted that in addition to radon / thoron, other radionuclides in the air can also be deposited on dust particles or other microparticles and / or form chemical and other types of bonds with them. Since the charge acquired by dust particles or other microparticles can be either positive or negative, radionuclides can be attracted to the electrostatic electrode and deposited on it at any sign of the voltage applied to the electrostatic electrode. That is, with a negative potential on the electrostatic electrode there may be radionuclides that have not settled on this electrode, and with a positive potential on the electrostatic electrode there may be radionuclides deposited on this electrode.

It should be noted that even radionuclides having an electric charge, the sign of which coincides with the sign of the potential of the electrostatic electrode, can settle onto this electrode or be attracted to it by the electric field created by the electrostatic electrode when they are deposited on dust particles or other microparticles having opposite in sign electric charge, exceeding in magnitude the charge of the radionuclide (preferably two or more times).

In other words, a sensor mounted near the electrostatic electrode (at a distance of not more than the mean free path of the detected alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or the distance at which an effective registration of gamma radiation), can detect alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation emitted by radionuclides that are on the electrostatic electrode and / or near the electrostatic electrode regardless of the sign of the electric potential installed on the electrostatic electrode (depending from the polarity of the voltage applied to it).

It should also be noted that the possibility of radionuclides entering from the air near the device onto the electrostatic electrode, in addition to the possibility of emitting alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation by radionuclides on the electrostatic electrode (for example, deposited on it) also implies the possibility of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation by radionuclides near the electrostatic electrode, which did not have time to settle on this electrode or cannot do this due to its electroneutrality, or For example, if they are the product of radioactive decay of the radionuclides were on the electrostatic electrode or near it.

The presence of a constant component of the voltage on the electrostatic electrode relative to one or more connecting electrodes connected to the electric network is of high importance for the following reasons. The wires or conductors of the electric network are usually distributed in space (for example, in the walls of the room) and have a constant component of the electric potential close to the potential of the earth (building, premises), since there is a constant voltage between the phase wire and the ground (neutral wire, neutral), and also between the neutral wire (neutral) and the ground is a network fault, which usually seek to eliminate, and the neutral wire according to regulatory requirements, it is mainly necessary to ground.

In the case of an electric network transmitting constant voltage, the entire description made above with respect to electric networks with alternating voltage is also true except that electric networks with constant voltage are less common, the alternating component of voltage on the conductors is absent or small (much less than constant component), and its conductors form an extended (and sometimes distributed in space) electric dipole or capacitor. The electric field of the dipole decreases rapidly depending on the distance, and the average potential, which is the arithmetic average of the potentials of the conductors, can correspond to the potential of the environment, for example, with bipolar potentials in the conductors, or differ from it by no more than half the magnitude of the voltage between the conductors. In the latter case, the environmental potential can gradually change towards the average potential of such an electrical network.

This means that applying a constant voltage (or a constant component of voltage) to the electrostatic electrode relative to the wires of the electric network, both alternating and constant voltage, the electrostatic electrode is given an electric potential that differs from the potential of not only the wires of the electric network, but also the entire surrounding space, which corresponds to the creation of a solitary charge (without a dipole forming a charge of a different magnitude or with a different sign located next to the electric residual electrode within the device). A solitary charge is formed due to the creation of an excess of electrons on the electrostatic electrode (a negative charge is formed) or a lack of electrons (a positive charge is formed).

Due to the solitude with respect to the environment (for example, walls and other room elements) of the electric charge on the electrostatic electrode, which forms an electric field in the surrounding space, the potential of the indicated electric field decreases inversely with the distance from the electrode (to the first degree), and the Coulomb force acting on the charges around the electrostatic electrode, decreases in inverse proportion to the square of the distance from the electrode (i.e., to the second degree).

This distinguishes the present invention from the prior art, in which dipole electric chambers are typically used, i.e. containing a positive and negative electrode, between which a high voltage is applied, which leads to the formation of an electric field whose potential at distances greater than the distance between the electrodes decreases inversely with the square of the distance from the camera (i.e., to the second degree), and the Coulomb force on charges around such electric cameras, decreases inversely with the cube of the distance from the camera (i.e., to the third degree).

Since air inevitably contains suspended microparticles, which are, among other things, dust, when it is established in the space between the electrostatic electrode and the wires of the electric network of an electric field with a constant component, the dust will be attracted to electrostatic electrode, since it is easily electrified by friction against air or due to other mechanisms and, therefore, acquires an electric charge, which is affected by the force moving the charged particles in the electric field, including and dust. Since radionuclides (including radar DPRs) are also deposited on dust due to its electrification, this means that when dust is deposited on an electrostatic electrode that is open to ambient air due to the presence of an electric potential with a constant component, radionuclides are deposited on the electrode along with dust previously deposited on dust particles. In addition, radionuclides, including DPR radon, can be deposited on the electrostatic electrode on their own, without the help of dust or other particles.

This means that in order to attract, capture and precipitate (i.e. collect) radionuclides (mainly together with dust) from the same volume of the surrounding space in accordance with the present invention, devices or systems for pumping or creating an air stream, such as fans, are not required pumps, air conditioners, etc. In addition, the collection of radionuclides requires an electrostatic electrode with dimensions (area, volume) smaller than devices in the prior art (in particular, with the dimensions of their dipoles and / or air chambers), since the electric field generated by the device in accordance with the present invention decreases much less (slower) depending on the distance.

This allows you to create a small-sized (compact) device for determining the content of radionuclides in ambient air, since the electric field generated by the open electrostatic electrode, which is supplied with a constant electric voltage relative to the electric network, and therefore the surrounding space, effectively captures and precipitates (collects) radionuclides , including DPR radon, on the electrostatic electrode from a significant amount of the surrounding space without using a pump.

In addition, due to the indicated property of the generated electric field in accordance with the present invention, the efficiency of the device is significantly increased, since even the minimum dimensions of the electrostatic electrode, determined from other considerations, provide higher efficiency for dust deposition and collection of radionuclides and significantly higher sensitivity in determining the content and characteristics (decay frequency, concentration, volumetric activity) of radionuclides, including radon and its DPR, in comparison with the prior art, since radionuclides from a larger volume of space are deposited on such an open electrostatic electrode (preferably without screening and filtering small-sized dust particles).

The amount of space from which the capture and collection of radionuclides

(mainly together with dust), is determined by the electric field strength, which in the case of the present invention decreases with distance to a lesser extent than for devices of the prior art having dipoles. This means that the electric field strength sufficient to move dust and radionuclides to the electrostatic electrode, the device in accordance with the invention is formed at a greater distance than devices from the prior art at the same voltages and / or sizes, and, therefore, the device in accordance with the present invention captures dust from a larger volume of the surrounding space (air). Thus, the present device more efficiently collects radionuclides from the surrounding space than devices from the prior art.

Since the electrostatic electrode can have not only a constant component of the electric potential, but also a variable, the electric field formed by the electrostatic electrode can be variable. In addition, on one or more wires of an alternating voltage electric network, there is an alternating component of voltage of a large magnitude. This means that in these cases, the Coulomb force, variable in magnitude, will act on charged particles suspended in air.

As a result of exposure to charged particles in the air of an alternating electric field, the Coulomb force can be periodically directed both towards the electrostatic electrode and vice versa. This can slow down the rate of deposition of charged particles on the electrostatic electrode, since part of the energy of the generated electric field will be spent on slowing down the charged particles, which the electric field first accelerated in one direction, and after changing the direction of the electric field began to accelerate in the other direction.

To increase the rate of deposition of charged particles on the electrostatic potential (increase the efficiency of the device), it is preferable that the constant component of the voltage on the electrostatic electrode relative to one or more connecting electrodes, characterizing its constant component potential was greater than the amplitude of the variable component of the voltage, forming an alternating electric field and, accordingly, the Coulomb force, variable in magnitude and direction.

Since the main contribution to the alternating electric field is made by the alternating voltage of the electric network, to ensure the predominant unidirectionality of the Coulomb force, it is necessary that the constant component of the voltage on the electrostatic electrode relative to one or more connecting electrodes be greater than the effective (effective root mean square) voltage between the connecting electrodes, which will correspond to in particular, the effective voltage between the phase and zero (neutral) wire ami (or ground (grounded wire) instead of the neutral wire).

The value of the mean square (it is also effective, it is effective) voltage value is determined by the following formula:

where U _rms is the rms (effective, effective) voltage; T is the period of time during which the measurement is carried out; u (t) is the dependence of voltage on time. In accordance with the specified formula, the rms value for a given period of time T can be obtained for voltage with any time dependence. For example, for a constant voltage, its rms value will be equal to itself, and for a sinusoidal voltage, the rms value will be approximately 0.707 of the amplitude of the sine wave, etc.

The effective value of the alternating voltage numerically corresponds to the value of the direct voltage doing the same work on the charge as the alternating voltage. Since the movement of particles suspended in air is the work produced by the Coulomb force applied to charged particles by an electric field, the value of which can be characterized by an electric voltage, a comparison of the effective values of the DC component of the voltage on the electrostatic electrode and the AC voltage in the electric network allows us to determine not only instantaneous direction of movement of charged particles in air, but also the direction of movement of charged particles over a long time change interval, mainly longer than the period of alternating voltage. If the constant component of the voltage (or the actual value of this voltage) on the electrostatic electrode is greater than the effective value of the alternating voltage in the electric network, then even though in some parts of the period the resulting electric field can generate the Coulomb force directing charged particles of a certain sign from the electrostatic electrode , for most of the period, the Coulomb force will direct the charged particles toward the electrostatic electrode. (The direction of movement of the charged parts depends on the sign of their charge, however, given that charged particles of both signs can form, part of the particles will move in one direction and part in the other, depending on the direction of the electric field - in the case of the present invention we are talking about parts of particles whose charge sign makes them always or in most of the time move towards the electrostatic electrode and settle on it)

The root mean square (effective, effective) value is the most common indicator characterizing the alternating voltage in electrical networks. When one speaks simply of voltage or current strength in electric networks of alternating voltage, then by default their mean square values are usually meant. In addition, indicators and display elements of all voltmeters and ammeters of alternating current are calibrated in the rms values.

Therefore, to ensure the operability of the device in accordance with the present invention and to determine the use of the invention as an indicator with which the constant component of the voltage across the electrostatic electrode is compared, it is possible to use the actual voltage value of the electric network for which the device is intended to be connected.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the constant component of the electric potential (voltage relative to the connecting electrodes) on the electrostatic electrode is provided greater than the amplitude of the alternating voltage of the electric network. In this case, the Coulomb force will act on charged particles in the air, having the same direction at any time, although it varies in magnitude at different times. The amplitude of the AC voltage is mainly determined by the rms value taking into account the shape of the AC voltage (preferably with the exception of peaks, surges, voltage pulses, etc., since they can have a very large value, but short duration, in connection with which they make a relatively small contribution to the work carried out by voltage or electric field, for example, on the movement of charged particles on an electrostatic electrode).

This means that the energy of the electric field will not be spent on slowing down the particles, it will always be spent on accelerating (moving) the particles in the direction of the electrostatic electrode. Accordingly, the efficiency and sensitivity of such a device, which deposits charged particles at an electrostatic electrode at a higher speed and, therefore, in a larger quantity, will be higher than if the constant voltage component was less than the amplitude of the variable voltage component.

Accordingly, to implement a more efficient and sensitive device, the high-voltage module must be not only an AC to DC converter, for example, a rectifier, but also a step-up voltage converter, since when rectified without additional voltage increase, the DC component of the rectified voltage will be less than the amplitude of the rectified AC voltage and even less than the effective value, including due to losses during rectification (for sinuso Further it srednevypryamlennoe voltage value of the voltage of the current is 0.9). However, a simple rectifier can also be used as a high-voltage module, since the deposition of charged particles on the electrostatic electrode can also occur if the constant voltage component is less than the amplitude of the variable voltage component, although such particle deposition will be slower, i.e. with less efficiency.

To ensure the collection of charged particles from the ambient air when connecting the device in accordance with the present invention to a constant voltage electric network, the constant voltage component of the electrostatic electrode relative to one or more connecting electrodes should preferably exceed the constant voltage component (or constant voltage) between the connecting electrodes (and wires of an electric network). In this case, even if the voltages at the electrostatic electrode and the connecting electrode with respect to the other electrostatic electrode have the same sign, the potential of the electrostatic electrode will still differ both from the potentials of the individual connecting electrodes and from their average potential (and therefore together from the individual and average potentials wires electric network). This means that on the electrostatic electrode it will be a solitary charge and will form an electric field that slowly decreases depending on the distance and ensures the efficient collection of charged particles and radionuclides from the ambient air onto the electrostatic electrode.

The current voltage values in electric networks are usually about 1 10V, 127V, 220V, 250V, 380V (maybe an industrial voltage of 690V) - that is, less than 1000V, mostly less than 500V and even less than 400V. Thus, for the implementation of the present invention in virtually any domestic environment, it is sufficient to provide a constant component with an absolute value of the voltage across the electrostatic electrode relative to one or more connecting electrodes of at least 500V or 600V or 700V or 800V. Such a relatively small value of the constant component provides greater safety of the device in accordance with the present invention.

However, there may be options where the DC component of the voltage on the electrostatic electrode relative to one or more connecting electrodes is preferably greater than 1000V or less than -1000V. At such voltages, conditions are provided for more intensive deposition of charged particles on the electrostatic electrode and, accordingly, increased sensitivity and efficiency of the device in accordance with the present invention in determining the activity / concentration of radionuclides, including radon and / or its DPR.

The voltage at the electrostatic electrode must be less than the voltage at which an electrical breakdown of air or the elements / components of the device, corona discharge or other negative phenomena associated with high voltages is possible. For the purposes of the present invention, the upper permissible limit of the DC component of the voltage between the electrostatic electrode and one or more connecting electrodes can be estimated at 3000V. Thus, the constant component of the electrical voltage on the electrostatic electrode relative to one or more connecting electrodes in absolute value is not less than 300V and not more than 3000V, or not less than 500V and not more than 2000V, or preferably not less than 1000V and not more than 1500V.

After the radionuclides (including the radar DPR) have settled on the electrostatic electrode, which acts as a trap, or got into the area near this electrode, they decay with the release of alpha particles, beta particles and / or gamma radiation (or other radiation). The release of alpha particles, beta particles and / or gamma radiation can be detected using one or more sensors of the respective particles or radiation located near the electrostatic electrode. For example, an alpha-particle sensor is an element / component that produces a signal reflecting the parameters of an alpha particle, for example, the fact of their passage near the sensor, their contact with the sensor, and / or the particles formed by alpha particles when they fly through the sensor, e.g. ions (ion tracks). Similar sensors can be used to detect beta particles and / or gamma radiation.

The signal from the sensor of the corresponding particles or radiation (not shown in Fig. 2) is supplied to the processing unit 205, in which the signal is processed with registration of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation (determining the fact of their flight / appearance ), indicating the decay of radionuclides, and the determination, if necessary, of a number of parameters, for example, the decay rate of radionuclides and / or their concentration / activity in ambient air (including for radon and its DPR).

Data defined (recorded, detected) by the processing unit 205, and / or a signal from the sensor can be transmitted using the communication module 206 to an external device, for example, an indicator. In addition, the indicated data and / or signal can be transmitted to the indicator without using a communication module, for example, directly or through other elements.

To ensure the operability of the processing unit 205 and, optionally, the communication module 206, the power supply unit 203 advantageously comprises a low voltage module 232. The low voltage module is electrically connected to the connecting electrodes and is configured to convert a voltage, for example, an electrical network, to a supply voltage necessary for the processing unit (as well as a communication module and, possibly, an indicator). The low voltage module is connected to the processing unit and is configured to supply the generated electrical supply voltage to the processing unit.

The invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 3, which shows a block diagram of a device according to one possible embodiment of the invention. Embodiments of the device shown in FIG. 1 and 2 may use the block diagram shown in FIG. 3, however, this is not necessary and the implementation of the devices of FIG. 1 and 2 at the level of the structural block diagram may differ. Elements / components shown in FIG. 1, 2 and 3 having the same functional purposes and / or names may vary in composition or form of execution, in connection with which they are assigned different position numbers in different figures, the numbering of which is separate for each figure.

The block diagram shown in FIG. 3, includes a plug 301 in the form of a plug with connecting electrodes 31 1 electrically connected to a power supply 302 including a high voltage module 321, the output of which is connected to an electrostatic electrode 303, and a low voltage module 322 connected to a processing unit 305, including an amplifier 351 and a processing module 352, for example, a processor or controller, a communication module 306 and an indicator 307. A sensor 304 is installed near the electrostatic electrode 303, the signal of which is supplied to the processing unit 305, where it is is amplified by the amplifier 351 and processed by the processing module 352. From the processing module 352, the processed data and / or sensor signal are sent to the communication module 306, in which they can be transmitted, for example, by radio communication through the antenna 361. In addition, the processed data from the processing module 352 and / or the sensor signal is sent to an indicator 307, which can display the signal level, events of registration of alpha particles, beta particles and / or gamma radiation and / or characteristics obtained by processing the signal in the processing module 352.

The high voltage module is designed to supply an electrostatic electrode with an electrical voltage with a constant component relative to one or more connecting electrodes that are part of the connecting element (for example, plug plugs). As shown in FIG. In option 3, the high voltage module contains a voltage multiplier (for example, a Cockroft-Walton generator), which consists of a ladder (several chains) of capacitors and diodes and can convert an alternating or ripple voltage to a high constant voltage (or voltage with a constant component), the value of which is greater than the voltage between the connecting electrodes.

The advantages of a voltage multiplier include the absence of a transformer (and, consequently, lower weight and dimensions), the absence of the need for reinforced insulation and the formation of an output voltage relative to the input connected to the connecting electrodes. Due to the latter advantage, there is no need to bind the potential of any element of the high voltage module to the potential of one or more connecting electrodes, as may be required when using, for example, a transformer circuit of a voltage converter.

In fact, in the prior art, circuits / devices containing transformers are usually used as step-up voltage converters, the main advantage of which is the provision of electrical (galvanic) isolation (isolation) between the input and output windings of the transformer, which ensures electrical safety of the voltage converter due to the fact that the current from the electric network cannot directly get into the device powered through the transformer converter. The electric potentials at the output of such a converter turn out to be approximately equal in size to half the output voltage from the constant potential of the earth with different signs and form a dipole between the output electrodes or, in some cases, one output electrode and the housing. As noted above, the electric field generated by the dipole decreases faster depending on the distance from the dipole, i.e. to a greater extent than from a solitary charge, and therefore such converters cannot provide the advantages of the present invention.

A similar drawback is possessed by autonomous devices powered by galvanic cells, batteries or accumulators. The high voltage generated in them is applied to two electrodes in an electric chamber (or to one electrode relative to the housing or any electrically conductive element of the device). Since such devices are completely autonomous, they are electrically (galvanically) isolated (isolated) from the electrical network and the environment. As a result, the potentials of these electrodes or the electrode and the housing also turn out to be approximately equal in size to half the output voltage from the constant potential of the earth with different signs and form a classical dipole.

If the stand-alone device itself has an electric potential, for example, obtained earlier, then due to the deposition of charged particles (for example, dust), the total (average) electric potential of the device will quickly enough equalize with the environmental potential and will remain at the same level. that is, the device from an electrical point of view will be a dipole, since the potentials of the elements carrying electricity, between which a high voltage is created (and one of which is electrostatic electrode) will be spaced relative to the average potential of the device by essentially the same values with different signs. A similar picture will be observed in devices connected to the electric network with the provision of electrical (galvanic) isolation (isolation), except that in addition to the deposition of charged particles, another process is added that helps to align the average potential of the electrically decoupled part with the environmental potential electrical network, and representing the leakage current between the electrically isolated parts of the device.

Therefore, to ensure the technical result of the present invention when using a voltage converter with electrical (galvanic) isolation (isolation) of the input and output (for example, containing a transformer), it is necessary to give one of the electrically conductive elements of the device that is part of the part of the device that is isolated from the electrical network , of a certain potential so that with respect to it it becomes possible to set the potential of the electrostatic electrode in such a way that the total (average d) the potential of the device was different from the potential of the environment and / or electric network. For example, in some cases, depending on the circuitry solution, the case grounding may be sufficient for this, and in the case of a transformer converter, this can be done by connecting (direct or using resistances, capacitors or semiconductor elements) to some ends of the input and output windings.

It should be noted that if one of the electrically conductive elements of the device, which is part of the device’s part isolated from the electric network, is given a certain potential and the required potential of the electrostatic electrode is provided in such a way that the total (average) potential of the device differs from the environmental potential and / or electrical network, the device may become hazardous and measures must be taken to prevent electric shock / voltage damage to living things and other devices.

One type of possible measure has been described previously with respect to FIG. 1 and represents the placement of the electrode in the housing. In this case, it is necessary to ensure the openness of the electrostatic electrode to the surrounding space, that is, the possibility of charged particles (for example, dust) with radionuclides from the surrounding air to enter the electrostatic electrode through the housing. This requires windows, holes, cutouts and other types of openings in the housing, connecting the internal volume of the housing (or part thereof) with the surrounding space.

In another embodiment, the above openings, slots, openings, windows in the walls of the body can be covered with a mesh, porous, fabric or other material, or with an element that can prevent various objects or parts of the body from entering the body through the window, but allow passage through such material or element air, charged particles, dust, radionuclides, for example, DPR of radon and radon itself. The use of such a material or element will slightly reduce the sensitivity of the device due to the retention of part of the indicated charged particles, dust and radionuclides by the material or element itself, but, nevertheless, their passage will be ensured and, at the same time, the penetration of foreign objects into the device will be prevented.

In some embodiments, electric shock can be prevented by limiting the current that can flow through the voltage converter included in the high voltage module, for example, to an electrostatic electrode. The current can be limited, for example, by selecting a voltage converter circuit (design) in which the current flowing through the converter when the electrostatic electrode is touched by an object having an electric potential different from the electrostatic electrode potential, directly or through an object, is limited by, not dangerous for living things and / or devices, including taking into account the high voltage on the electrostatic electrode. An example of such a circuit, for example, is a voltage multiplier used in high voltage module 321, due to the presence of current limiting elements.

In other embodiments, current limiting can be carried out using one or more current-limiting elements located at the input or output of the voltage converter, as part of the voltage converter, or arranged in such a way that the electrostatic electrode is connected to the voltage converter or the voltage converter with connecting electrodes by current-limiting elements. Resistance, capacitances, nonlinear and / or semiconductor elements can be used as current-limiting elements. When using current-limiting elements, current limitation can be ensured even in the case of the use of voltage converters, which in themselves do not limit the output current. Thanks By limiting the current, it is possible to prevent electric shocks from living creatures and / or devices for open electrostatic electrodes placed both in housings and without housings.

Thus, using the above measures, both individually and in various combinations, it is possible to ensure the electrical safety of the device in accordance with the present invention. At the same time, it should be noted that ensuring such electrical safety is not necessary for the implementation of the present invention, since the performance and required characteristics of the device in accordance with the present invention can be realized without ensuring electrical safety. Such a device can be used in conditions where there is no need to ensure electrical safety, for example, in deserted rooms and spaces or serviced by properly instructed and trained personnel using individual protective measures. However, ensuring electrical safety provides such an advantage as universality, convenience and breadth of use, regardless of whether people and animals have access to it or not.

Radionuclides deposited on the electrostatic electrode 303 alone or on dust or other particles decay with the emission of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation. A sensor 304 is designed to detect these particles and / or radiation. The sensor can be located near the electrostatic electrode no further from it than the mean free path of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or the propagation distance of gamma radiation, or inside an electric chamber that performs the role of the electrostatic electrode, also taking into account the possibility of registration of particles and / or radiation, for which they must reach the sensor. In addition, between the electrostatic electrode and the sensor there should be no objects that could interfere with the passage of particles and / or the propagation of radiation, that is, the sensor and the electrostatic electrode should preferably be within the direct line of sight of each other. In FIG. 3, a sensor 304 is shown near the electrode 303, since this is an exemplary block diagram for explaining the invention, and this does not impose restrictions on the installation location of the sensor.

As a sensor for alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation, any sensor known in the art can be used. For example, it can be a semiconductor sensor, which is a diode, for example a pin diode or a photodiode. To increase the sensitivity between the semiconductor a scintillator can be placed with a photodiode and electrostatic electrode. At the same time, it must be borne in mind that a semiconductor photodiode suitable for detecting alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation has a rather high cost, and the set of components in the form of a scintillator and a semiconductor photodiode is cumbersome, which is negative affects the size and weight of the device.

To register gamma radiation and / or alpha particles and / or beta particles, a corresponding Geiger-Muller counter can also be used. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that this meter is quite large and expensive and, as a rule, requires a separate increased supply voltage.

In order to ensure small size, high efficiency and low cost, an ionization chamber (in particular open) in which alpha energy can be used to detect ionization radiation that can be generated by alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation -particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation is spent on the formation of a charge of ions formed during the passage of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or the propagation of gamma radiation in air. The ionization chamber is formed by an electrostatic electrode, mainly large in size for the effective deposition of charged particles and radionuclides over a large area, and a concentrating electrode, mainly small in size (smaller than the electrostatic electrode) to ensure the concentration of the electric field, resulting in unevenness (high gradient) of the electric field, increasing the likelihood of cascade (or avalanche) ionization of air by alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation emitted by radionuclides, including DPR radon or directly radon.

Cascade (or avalanche) ionization of air by alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation has the advantage over conventional impact ionization (occurring with any type of ionization) in that if one or more ions are formed during impact ionization, in the presence of conditions for cascade (or avalanche) ionization after impact ionization, a chain of subsequent ionizations of the gases that make up the air occurs, in which the number of ions increases many times and even by several orders of magnitude. As a result, when creating conditions for cascade (or avalanche) ionization, it becomes easier to register alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation, because the number of ions formed by them is much larger and, as a result, the sensor signal also has a significantly larger value.

Such electric potentials are formed on the electrostatic and concentrating electrodes, the difference between which (voltage) provides the possibility of efficient collection of ions arising from ionization of the air by emitted alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation. The optimal value of such a voltage depends on the size of the ionization chamber, in particular, on the distance between its electrodes. The dimensions of the chamber, in turn, are determined based on the energy characteristics of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation emitted by radionuclides, for example, radon and its DPR, in particular, their flight speeds.

In the event that, to ensure greater safety, the constant component of the voltage on the electrostatic electrode relative to one or more connecting electrodes has a relatively small absolute value (i.e., a value exceeding the voltage (for example, acting) between the connecting electrodes by no more than 2, 3 or 4 times, for example, at least 500V or 600V or 700V or 800V), the electrostatic electrode, as well as the ionization chamber should preferably be made with small dimensions to ensure conditions for the efficient collection of ions, since the electric field is inversely proportional to the distance between the electrodes and directly proportional to the voltage between them. Thus, when lowering the voltage in order to maintain the electric field strength at which complete collection of ions is possible, it is necessary to reduce the distance between the electrodes, that is, the dimensions of the ionization chamber, which also ensures the small size (compactness) of the device in accordance with the present invention.

In this regard, the voltage between the electrodes of the ionization chamber can be determined on the basis of other considerations. In particular, the efficiency of deposition of charged particles suspended in air onto an electrostatic electrode can be taken into account, for which a potential differing by at least 1000 volts in comparison with a constant (average) environmental potential (usually electric network) in one direction or another.

It must be borne in mind that the high voltage between the electrodes of the ionization chamber creates opportunities for electrical breakdown. In this regard, it is necessary to select the dimensions of the ionization chamber and the voltage between its electrodes and their shape so that the electric field is less than critical, i.e. one in which an electrical breakdown of air occurs.

In addition, the efficiency of determining (detecting) alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation depends on the voltage between the electrodes of the ionization chamber, since the efficiency of collecting ions from ion tracks created by alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation in air depends on the electric field strength (including the voltage between the electrodes): when a higher voltage is established between the electrodes with a magnitude of up to 1000V, the efficiency increases, and over 1000V it remains approximately bottom and same (practically does not grow or grows weakly). In this regard, an increase in voltage between the electrodes of the ionization chamber from the point of view of increasing the efficiency (sensitivity) of determining (detecting) alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation makes sense up to 1000V.

At the same time, the effect of the magnitude of the voltage across the electrostatic electrode (which in the preferred embodiment forms one of the electrodes of the ionization chamber) on the efficiency of the collection of radionuclides from ambient air has a slightly different character. In particular, when a higher voltage is established at an electrostatic electrode with a magnitude of up to 1000V, the collection efficiency of radionuclides (their collected amount) increases significantly, over 1000V but less than 1500V the increase in efficiency becomes less, and over 1500V the increase in the collection efficiency of radionuclides becomes insignificant. This means that increasing the voltage at the electrostatic electrode in terms of increasing the efficiency (quantity) of collecting radionuclides makes sense up to 1500V.

Since in an advantageous embodiment, the electrostatic electrode is one of the electrodes of the ionization chamber, the voltage across the electrostatic electrode is mainly counted relative to the concentrating electrode, i.e. represents the voltage between the electrodes of the ionization chamber. In this embodiment, for the above reasons, the preferred value of this voltage is in the range between 1000V and 1500V.

It is also necessary to take into account that the electrostatic and concentrating electrodes of the ionization chamber form a dipole, since they have different potentials. In view of the foregoing, the effect of a dipole pair of electrodes on the volume of ambient air from which charged particles are captured and deposited on the electrostatic electrode by the generated field (and hence the effect on the efficiency and sensitivity of the device in accordance with the present invention), in order to reduce the influence of the dipole effect on the performance of the device, it is useful that the potential of the concentrating electrode be close to the potential of the environment, in particular, the electrical network and, more specifically, the connecting electrodes.

The binding of the potential of the concentrating electrode to the constant potential of the connecting electrodes (in the limit equalization of these potentials) can be carried out using potential-determining components, for example, using the resistance connecting the concentrating electrode to a conductor having a potential close to the constant potential of the connecting electrodes (or one of them ) The resistance can be large (hundreds of kilo-ohms, megaohms or more), and the conductor with which it connects can be part of the power supply, in particular a high voltage module or low voltage module, or can be connected directly or through additional components with one or several connecting electrodes. In other embodiments, other circuits known in the art, including circuits with semiconductor components, can also be used to attract (draw together) the constant potential components of the concentrating and connecting electrodes.

Despite the fact that the concentrating electrode has a potential close to the potential of the environment, in the ionization chamber it can be called the anode if a negative potential is applied to the electrostatic electrode (in this case, the electrostatic electrode itself can be called the cathode), or the cathode if the electrostatic electrode positive potential is applied (the electrostatic electrode itself in this case may be called the anode). This is due to the fact that the concentrating electrode with respect to the electrostatic electrode has a different potential and together they form an electric field necessary to ensure the operability of the ionization chamber, just as if the concentrating electrode had a potential different from the potential of the environment.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the ionization chamber is formed by a large area electrostatic electrode with an electric potential having a constant component relative to one or more connecting electrodes (for example, more than 200V, 300V, 400V, 500V, 600V, 700V, -800V or 900V with a positive potential or less than -200V, -300V, -400V, -500V, -600V, -700V, -800V or -900V with a negative potential, mainly more than 1000V with a positive potential or less than -1000V at a negative potential), and a concentrating electrode of a small area with an electric potential, the constant component of which is close to the constant component of the potential of one or more connecting electrodes (for example, it differs within +/- 50V and is predominantly equal). Since in this configuration the concentrating electrode has a potential close to the constant potential of the connecting electrodes (electric network), then, as mentioned above, in order to ensure the highest detection efficiency of alpha particles, the voltage between the electrostatic electrode and one or more connecting electrodes should preferably not exceed ( or be less) 1500V.

At high values (absolute) of the DC component of the voltage on the electrostatic electrode relative to one or more connecting electrodes compared to the alternating voltage (effective value or amplitude) between the connecting electrodes (or the variable component on the electrostatic electrode), the electric field generated near the electrostatic electrode provides on charged particles suspended in air, the Coulomb force is directed in one direction and is relatively small variable in size. This provides a more efficient collection of charged particles by an electrostatic electrode.

Due to the presence of an electric voltage in the ionization chamber, which ensures the collection of ions resulting from air ionization with alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation, and the inhomogeneity (gradient) of the electric field formed by the difference in the sizes of the electrostatic and concentrating electrodes and increasing the likelihood of impact ionization, alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation emitted by radionuclides generate ion tracks in the ionization chamber at the places of passage. The alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation sensors in the form of an ionization chamber detect not only (and not so much) the alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation themselves, but also ionized particles that move in an electric field inside the ionization chamber, which increases the likelihood of detecting alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation and distinguishing their characteristics. Air ions formed as a result of radiation and / or particles can have charges with different signs and some of them will inevitably be deposited on the concentrating electrode. Therefore, these ions can be detected either by detecting a change in charge on the concentrating electrode, or by detecting changes in its electrical characteristics located near the concentrating electrode or near the ion passage path of the sensor. The preferred option is to use a direct concentrating electrode to detect ions, since in this case there is no need to install additional sensors.

When using a directly concentrating electrode to detect ions formed by alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation, a sensor of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation can be considered as the ionization chamber itself, formed electrostatic electrode and a concentrating electrode, and only a concentrating electrode, since the signal used to determine alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation is obtained mainly from the concentrating electrode. At the same time, it must be borne in mind that the ionization chamber mainly provides conditions for the efficient registration of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation by creating a highly non-uniform electric field that facilitates the collection of electrons / ions created by alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation, and registration of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation (directly or using ions formed by particles) can be carried out using a concentration electron ode, and other sensors or electrodes.

The large area of the electrostatic electrode provides a larger volume in which conditions can be created for the generation of ion tracks by alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation resulting from the decay of radionuclides, which means higher sensitivity and efficiency of the device . However, an increase in the size of the electrostatic electrode also means an increase in the distance between the concentrating electrode and those parts of the electrostatic electrode that are opposite or adjacent to the concentrating electrode. In this case, in order to maintain the conditions of cascade (or avalanche) ionization and ensure the efficiency of ion collection in the chamber, an increase in voltage between the electrodes will be required, which lead to electrical breakdown and adversely affect the electrical safety of the device.

In addition, in the case of predominant registration of alpha particles, it must be taken into account that the mean free path of alpha particles in air is 5-6 cm, and therefore a camera with a characteristic size (diameter, transverse size and / or length) of less than 5 cm will result to reduce the efficiency (sensitivity) of registration of alpha particles, and the implementation of the camera with a characteristic size of more than 6 cm means excessive consumption of materials and unreasonable increase in size. At the same time, an ionization chamber with a characteristic size of not less than 2 cm and not more than 10 cm will also ensure the registration of alpha particles. The advantage of determining the presence and / or content of radionuclides in air using an open air ionization chamber by detecting alpha particles is that alpha particles and / or ion tracks created by them cause a larger signal in the sensor than beta particles or gamma radiation.

Increasing the effective usable area of the electrostatic electrode is possible in several ways. Firstly, it is possible to place several concentrating electrodes near the electrostatic electrode. This will lead to the fact that the conditions for the formation of cascade (or avalanche) ionization will be provided not in one area of the electrostatic electrode near one concentrating electrode, but in several areas around several concentrating electrodes. With appropriate placement of the concentrating electrodes at a distance from each other, these areas of the electrostatic electrode can lie adjacent to each other, forming a single area for the effective formation of conditions for cascade (or avalanche) ionization.

Secondly, the electrostatic electrode can be made in the form of an electric chamber, forming a volume, in particular, an ionization chamber and surrounding the concentrating electrode on several sides, as a result of which the entire surface (or most) of the electrostatic electrode facing the concentrating electrode is on the optimal distance at which efficient ion collection and / or conditions are provided for cascade (or avalanche) ionization, taking into account the voltage between the electrodes of the ionization chamber ry.

Since the electrostatic electrode can attract charged particles suspended in air from the space surrounding the electrode, then radionuclides can be deposited mainly on the outer surface of the electric chamber, which can form an electrostatic electrode. However, the concentrating electrode is located inside such a chamber and, therefore, conditions for the efficient collection of ions are created inside the chamber.

This means that the walls of the electric chamber, that is, the electrostatic electrode, must ensure the deposition of radionuclides on them (including, for example, together with dust) from the inside in order to ensure that alpha particles of beta particles and / or gamma - emissions resulting from the decay of radionuclides inside the electric chamber - that is, the electric chamber must be open to ambient air (in other words, the ionization chamber, the volume of which is formed by the electric chamber, must and to be an open air ionization chamber).

To fulfill these requirements, the electrostatic electrode can be made not of a continuous material, but of a porous, mesh, fabric material or element or a material or element with holes (such material or element can be made using metal or metallization). Such material may allow passage of not only alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation into the chamber, but also the radionuclides and / or radioactive dust themselves. This can be a porous film, mesh, fabric, sheet material with holes, mainly made using metal or metallization, for example, surface.

A grid made using metal has special advantages, since it, on the one hand, effectively creates an electric field for collecting radionuclides on the wires forming a grid, and on the other hand, has sufficiently large cells in comparison with the particle sizes of dust, radionuclides, and ions DPR and the like, through which radionuclides can enter the ionization chamber. Part of the radionuclides (on microparticles or on their own) attracted by the electric field of the electrostatic electrode in the form of a grid will fly into the holes of the grid, fall into the chamber and continue to be under the influence of the electric field that the grid creates, but now the field will be directed back side. Consequently, radionuclides will slow down and be directed towards the grid, its wires, of which the grid is made, and settle on them from the inside.

Thus, the use of the grid allows radionuclides to enter the inner side of the ionization chamber, so that alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation can move inside the ionization chamber (those radionuclides that have settled on the outside of the chamber practically cannot emit alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation into the chamber, since these radiation propagate in a straight line and their entry into the chamber is prevented by wires, which radionuclides settle on the outside).

In addition, the large cell size (relative to the size of the ions, dust particles, alpha particles and beta particles) provides fewer delayed radionuclides, alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation and, consequently, a higher hit rate radionuclides, alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation into the ionization chamber. At the same time, an excessively large cell size worsens the electrostatic shielding conditions of the chamber’s concentrating electrode, which worsens the signal-to-noise ratio on the chamber’s concentrating electrode, and therefore, the cell sizes must be selected in accordance with the configuration of the ionization chamber and the voltage value to ensure efficient collection of radionuclides and registration alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation.

These methods of increasing the efficiency and sensitivity of the device by increasing the volume in which the conditions for effective ionization and ion collection are provided can be combined. For example, the electrostatic electrode may be an electric chamber that limits the volume of the ionization chamber in which several concentrating electrodes are placed. In particular, in FIG. 2 shows an electrostatic electrode 204 made using a grid and, preferably, metal (for example, in the form of a metal grid), in the form of an elongated electric chamber (i.e., a parallelepiped). Obviously, one concentrating electrode cannot provide the same conditions for the efficient collection of ions throughout the volume of such an electric chamber. In this regard, two, three can be installed inside the electric chamber (but still near the electrostatic electrode forming the electric chamber, at a distance of no more than the mean free path of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or the propagation distance of gamma radiation) , six or another number of concentrating electrodes in the form of wires in one or more rows.

The thickness of the wires (for example, diameter) for a single concentrating electrode or sensor in the form of a conductor in the ionization chamber, or for several concentrating electrodes or sensors in the form of conductors can be several millimeters or fractions millimeters, for example, less than 3 mm, 2.5 mm, 2 mm, 1, 5 mm, 1 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.1 mm and more than a few microns, for example, 5 microns, 10 microns, 25 microns, 50 μm, 100 μm.

In addition, several electric chambers can be made, forming, in particular, the volume of ionization chambers, in each of which (or near) one or more concentrating electrodes can be placed. The electrostatic electrodes forming these electric chambers can be electrically interconnected, which makes it possible to use DC voltage for all of them with a single high voltage module, or they can be completely separate electrostatic electrodes with separate DC voltage sources. Any of the above options allows both to increase the area of the electrostatic electrode (including division into several), which increases the efficiency and sensitivity of the device, and to provide conditions for the efficient collection of ions, necessary for the implementation of the principle of operation of the ionization chamber, for the entire or most of the area electrostatic electrode.

As already noted, for determining alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation, as well as ion tracks generated by alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation during flight under conditions conducive to shock ionization, can be used as directly concentrating electrode, and other electrodes or sensors. When using concentrating electrodes, firstly, there is no need to place additional electrodes or sensors, and secondly, the potential on the concentrating electrode, necessary to create conditions for the efficient collection of ions, will attract ions formed by alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation during flight under such conditions, and, accordingly, accumulate, i.e. change the charge on the concentrating electrode in accordance with the characteristics of the alpha particle and / or beta particle and / or gamma radiation, which, in turn, allows you to determine (detect) alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma -radiations and their characteristics, and, in some cases, determine the types, composition, quantity, ratio of radionuclides that generated them.

In order to determine the charge and its change at the concentrating electrode, a charge amplifier is connected with it in a preferred embodiment, which converts the amount of charge at the input to voltage or the current at the output, and the change in charge at the input, respectively, to the change in voltage or output current. The charge amplifier can be made in accordance with known from the prior art structural solutions, for example, using an operational amplifier with a high-impedance input.

Since the charges generated by the ions and their changes are usually small, in a preferred embodiment, the charge amplifier may be located next to the concentrating electrode (or another sensor or electrode used to detect alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation on ion tracks) to provide the best noise immunity. In the event that a concentrating electrode or other specified electrode or sensor is mounted near the electrostatic electrode in the form of an electric chamber, for example, inside an electric chamber, then the charge amplifier can also be located, for example, also inside the electric chamber (i.e., essentially inside the ionization chamber) or on the other side of the board opposite the electric chamber (for example, a concentration electrode).

In the event that several concentrating electrodes are installed near the electrostatic electrode (including the case when the electrostatic electrode forms one or more electric chambers), the charges / changes in charges from these electrodes are mainly amplified by separate charge amplifiers, since the combination of charges from the concentrating electrodes will lead to a decrease in the output signal of the charge amplifier, since ions will be collected by one of the concentrating electrodes and when the charge is combined It will be distributed to all of these electrodes. In addition, when flowing from the concentrating electrodes to the place of association, the charge must pass through the conductor, which will induce interference coming to the input of the amplifier and, as a result, amplify.

At the same time, the currents and / or voltages at the outputs of the charge amplifiers can be combined and / or processed separately (for example, amplified, filtered, used to determine alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation, etc. .) with further consolidation of the data, in which the losses are insignificant in comparison with the values of the currents / voltages themselves. In this case, interference at the input of the amplifiers is practically not induced if the amplifiers are located next to the electrodes from which the charge is removed (for example, concentrating ones), and the noise induced at the outputs of the amplifiers is significantly reduced or even eliminated due to the low output impedance of the amplifiers (in particular, operating amplifiers). In accordance with the block diagram of FIG. 3, the signal from the sensor 304 installed near the electrostatic electrode 303 is supplied to the processing unit 305, where it is amplified by an amplifier 351 and processed by the processing module 352. The sensor 304 may be, as described above, a semiconductor sensor, a Geiger-Muller counter, an ionization chamber or a concentration electrode of the ionization chamber, as well as other electrodes / sensors installed in the ionization chamber and / or near the electrostatic electrode.

The amplifier 351 may be a charge amplifier or a high-resistance voltage follower in the case of using an ionization chamber in accordance with the above options. At the same time, in some versions of the description of such structures, a charge amplifier can be included in the ionization chamber sensor, since the sensor in the form of an electrode, for example, a concentrating one, gives a signal in the form of a charge / charge change, which must be converted into currents / voltages and / or their changes. In this regard, in some approaches, a charge amplifier may be considered necessary to implement the functions of such a sensor and, therefore, can be considered part of it, although in general it is a separate element from the sensor.

In general, regardless of the type of sensor, the amplifier 351 is designed to amplify the sensor signal to the level that is necessary for efficient processing in the processing module 352. It can be performed using various components and various circuitry solutions known from the prior art, for example using separate elements, such as transistors, integrated elements, such as operational amplifiers, or to be integrated in a processing module (for example, such as a processor or controller). The amplifier can, in addition to amplification, perform the functions of limiting, filtering, inverting, transforming the waveform and / or changing the parameter of the electrical process used as a signal carrier, i.e., at least part of the functions of the processing module.

Processing module 352 is intended for processing, converting signals and / or obtaining, based on the characteristics and parameters of the data signals, for example, events of detection of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation, frequency and intensity of alpha decays and / or beta decays and / or gamma radiation, radionuclide radioactivity, for example, radonuclide / radon and / or radon / toron DPR, as well as the concentration and / or volumetric activity of radionuclides (all of these indicators can be determined, one or some of them in various combinations). The received data can be output or transmitted to external devices or elements / components. The term data, used hereinafter, mainly refers to data obtained as a result of processing the sensor signal.

The signal from the sensor usually requires preliminary processing before it can be used to extract data on alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation. This is due to the fact that the signals corresponding to the indicated particles and / or radiation can be small in magnitude and contain noise and interference. In addition, the device in accordance with the present invention is intended to be included in an electrical network, in which a lot of interference of various origins is usually observed. This can be impulse noise, periodic interference with different frequencies, noise, interference, etc.

Since an electrostatic electrode is supplied with a constant voltage component relative to one or more connecting electrodes, these interference and noise are partially reproduced in the electric field created by the electrostatic electrode. The electric field acts on the sensor and, therefore, in the signal from the sensor there will be a noise and interference component, having its origin from the electric network. When applying a high voltage to the electrostatic electrode, formed, for example, by multiplying the mains voltage, the noise and noise present in the network will also be amplified and, as a result, will have a significant amplitude.

Reducing this interference and noise component is possible in several ways (techniques). According to one of the methods, it is possible to reduce the level of interference and noise falling on the electrostatic electrode, for example, from the network. Filtering, for example, band-pass, low-pass, etc., can be used for this. Filter elements / components, such as RC circuits, capacitances, inductors (inductors), can be installed in the power supply, in particular in the high voltage module, for example, in a voltage converter, at its input or output, before the input of the power supply or at its output, for example, between a power supply and an electrostatic electrode, or between connecting electrodes and a power supply.

Thus, it is possible to reduce interference and noise on the electrostatic electrode, however, their complete suppression is impossible and requires the use of elements / components that increase the mass of the device, its size, and also cost. In this regard, the described method of reducing interference and noise is desirable for application, but the level of noise and interference suppression economically and constructively justified is usually insufficient to reliably detect alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation and determine the characteristics radioactive radiation and radionuclides.

Another way to reduce interference and noise in the sensor signal is filtering. This can be bandpass, low-frequency, high-frequency, matched, and other types of filtering. Such filtering can be carried out in a pre-amplifier before being fed to the processing module or in the processing module itself, for example, using filter elements / components, such as RC circuits, capacitors, inductances (inductors), etc., or, for example, using digital filtering.

Since the signals produced by the sensor as a result of the appearance of an alpha particle and / or beta particle and / or gamma radiation and / or an ion track generated by these particles and / or radiation usually have quite characteristic shapes and other characteristic characteristics when processing signals can be applied and will mainly give fairly good results correlation processing and / or matched filtering based on the use of the waveform. These types of processing can be carried out as separate elements / components, for example, as part of a processing module, or digitally, for example, if the processing module contains or is a controller or processor. Signal processing using features of the waveform generated by the alpha particle and / or beta particle and / or gamma radiation and / or the ion track can significantly reduce those components in the signal that have a shape different from the waveform caused by alpha particle and / or beta particle and / or gamma radiation and / or ion track, which increases the likelihood of detecting alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation and / or distinguishing between these particles and / or radiation , since in the filtered signal by Olsha parts remain only components originating from alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation.

If there are several sensors in the device, for example, several ionization chambers or several concentrating electrodes acting as a sensor, it is possible, including their joint processing, for example, correlation. Joint processing is possible at different stages, for example, at the stage of filtering or isolating components caused by alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation, including due to the peculiarities of the shape of the device’s responses to said particles and / or radiation , and / or after detecting alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation by comparing the detection facts or certain parameters to confirm their validity.

The above methods for processing sensor signals can reduce not only the interference and noise that have their origin in the electrical network, but also from other sources. For example, any device, including amplifiers create their own noise, which also require suppression. Some types of elements / components are also prone to create characteristic noise and interference.

For example, the electrostatic electrode of the ionization chamber, due to the supply of a high constant voltage to it, has a microphone effect (this is especially true for the electrostatic electrode as a part of the ionization chamber used as (in conjunction with) a sensor). This is due to the fact that the electrostatic electrode has a large surface, which is necessary to increase the efficiency (sensitivity) of the device, and, therefore, perceives mechanical influences on it, including sound vibrations of air. These effects lead to changes in the electric field in the sensor region, which are quite large due to the high electric field strength generated by the electrostatic electrode in order to increase the probability of the deposition of charged particles from air, including radon DPR and create conditions for the efficient collection of ions .

The high sensitivity of the device in accordance with the present invention allows to reduce the area of the electrostatic electrode and, due to this, to reduce the microphone effect, however, to completely eliminate it, additional signal processing in the processing unit is mainly required. For this, the above types of processing can be used, such as filtering (band-pass, low-frequency, high-frequency, etc.), correlation processing and matched filtering, etc.

It is also possible this type of processing in which if the sound threshold exceeds the specified threshold, the device stops counting alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation until the sound noise in the sensor signal returns to the allowable range (for example, due to the termination of the flow of sound mechanical vibrations to the electrostatic electrode). This eliminates the need for false definitions of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation caused by sound / mechanical interference.

The above-described types of signal processing of the sensor (or several sensors) increase the reliability of the detection of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation. At the same time, they are not required to implement the device if it is used in conditions where noise and interference are minimal or absent. However, under ordinary domestic conditions, such treatment is desirable and, in some cases, necessary. The described types of processing are not exhaustive and other types known from the prior art or developed specifically for this device can be used. All these types of processing can be carried out either individually or jointly in various combinations, sequentially or in parallel.

Another type of processing performed by the processing unit, in particular, the processing module, is the direct detection (determination) of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation. It is carried out on a signal that may be pre-processed or not processed using methods known from the prior art. For example, the detection of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation can be performed using the threshold method, when the fact of the passage of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation near (in the region) of the sensor is determined when the signal exceeds the processed signal values (for example, by correlation processing or matched filtering) of the specified threshold.

A common type of detection of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation is the construction of histograms by the magnitude of the peaks in the signal. This allows you to determine the energy characteristics of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation and / or the type of radionuclides that became the source of these particles and / or radiation. Peaks and / or other characteristic features / parameters can be determined both in the processed signal and not processed.

In addition to these methods for detecting alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation, other methods and methods known from the prior art and / or newly developed for the present device can be used. Detection can be carried out both directly the sensor signal, and the processed signal. In addition to and / or in addition to the above types of signal processing, for the determination (detection) of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation, signal processing such as integration, differentiation, logarithm, and others known from prior art and / or newly developed for the present device.

The data obtained from the determination (detection) of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation, mainly represent the frequency (number of particles / radiation per unit time) of the appearance of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation near the sensor and / or, for example, in the ionization chamber and, in some cases, may contain data on the characteristics of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation, such as energy and the like. These primary data on alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation provide additional data characterizing radionuclides at / near the electrostatic electrode and / or sensor. In particular, as a result of additional processing of these primary data on alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation, estimates of the composition of radionuclides, their concentration and / or activity, and others can be obtained. Further, taking into account the characteristics of the device for collecting radionuclides from ambient air, the volumetric activity / concentration of radionuclides can be determined.

Due to the fact that radionuclides in air usually include radon and / or DPR of radon, the above characteristics of radionuclides can reflect and / or contain the DPR characteristics of radon and / or radon itself. DPR of radon and / or radon can be released from all radionuclides, for example, according to energy characteristics, waveform, frequency of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation, or in other ways, including taking into account environmental conditions etc. Under ordinary conditions, in some approximation, we can assume that all or most of the alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation were generated by radar DPR, since under normal conditions radionuclides in air mainly appear due to decay of radon. According to a certain activity of radon DPR, the characteristics of radon itself can be determined, for example, its concentration or volumetric activity. This can be done in various ways, for example, according to the composition of radon DPR or the average radon DPR activity divided by a coefficient reflecting the ratio of the radon DPR activity to radon itself. The above and other types of processing can be carried out by various elements, components, modules, blocks and devices known from the prior art and / or newly developed, including for the present device. They can be analog and / or digital, perform each type or processing step individually or in combination, i.e. be separate or integrated, including with respect to combinations of several, but not all types and processing steps. In an advantageous embodiment, the processing module 352 is a processor or controller (or several pieces) and can carry out the above and other types of processing digitally in accordance with the program / instructions, which can be stored in a memory that is an element separate from the processor or controller or included in it structure. In some cases, the controller or processor may include not only a processing module, but also amplifiers and other elements.

In accordance with FIG. 3 from the processing module 352, the processed data, mainly representing the result of processing the sensor signal in the processing unit, and / or the sensor signal can be supplied to the communication module 306, in which they can be transmitted, for example, by radio communication through the antenna 361. In other embodiments of the implementation of the device, the communication module may not carry out radio communication, but transmit / exchange data via wired, optical and other communication channels, including jointly or in addition to the radio channel. At the same time, data transmission / exchange via the radio frequency communication channel is currently inexpensive, affordable and widespread, which makes it possible to use the device in accordance with the present invention for a wide range of users.

The communication module may be a cellular module, communication in accordance with the standards of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC and others, or any other valid communication module. Data and / or sensor signal can be transmitted to a data processing server or to a database, to a user terminal, such as a telephone, smartphone or any other. Data and / or signal transmission can also be carried out by wire, if the device provides such an opportunity. For example, a device may have a connector for connecting to an external device, which may be a telephone, smartphone, or any other device. The connector may be connected to a communication module for such data and / or communication signal transmission. In one of the preferred options, the connector may be a USB connector (as indicated earlier, it can also be used to supply power). Sensor data and / or signal may transmitted directly or averaged over a given period of time.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the communication module may be configured to receive and / or transmit control signals. For example, the communication module may receive control signals from external devices, such as a user terminal or server, and transmit them to the processing unit. The control signals may contain instructions, codes or programs that may be executed by the processing module. In this way, it is possible to set or change the processing parameters of the sensor signal or the processed data. In addition, the processing unit may control the indicator and / or power supply in accordance with the received control signals.

In the event that the device contains additional connecting electrodes that can be used to connect another external device to them and are connected through the output voltage control module to connecting electrodes intended for inclusion in the electric network, the processing unit may in some cases be able to control the module control the output voltage and, thereby, connect and disconnect an external device. In the event that the external device is a fan or air conditioner, the device can automatically bring them into an active state in order to reduce the level (concentration, activity) of radionuclides, for example, radon and / or its DPR, when it reaches a predetermined threshold and deactivate them when it decreases the level (concentration, activity) of radionuclides, for example, radon and / or its DPR, to an acceptable level. When implementing such control of external devices, not only data on the concentration (activity) of radon and / or its DPR (or radionuclides in general) can be taken into account, but also temperature, humidity, air pressure and other environmental indicators.

In other embodiments, the communication module may receive control signals from the processing unit and transmit them to external devices. For example, a communication module may transmit control signals via infrared or other radiation to other external devices, such as, for example, fans, air conditioners, and the like. It also provides the ability to automatically control the operation of such devices in order to maintain the level (concentration, activity) of radon and / or its DPR (or radionuclides in general) within specified limits similar to the above option except that a wired connection to a device in accordance with the present invention is optional.

In one of the preferred embodiments of the device, the communication module comprises an infrared radiation source, such as, for example, an infrared emitting diode, that is, an infrared emitting diode (in some embodiments, the communication module may be an infrared emitting diode). Due to the fact that the transmission of control signals via the infrared channel is very common, the presence of such a possibility in this device provides the ability to control various devices without establishing a connection and, in some cases, even without setting the settings that provide such control.

For example, through an IR-emitting diode, a device can transmit control signals in accordance with one, several or all available standards of control signals, and devices that can reach infrared radiation can be sensed using infrared radiation sensors (for example, an infrared photodiode) and perform actions and / or commands given by control signals. Due to this, the device in accordance with the present invention can control the operation of such devices as, for example, fans, air conditioners, climate control, systems for maintaining indoor climatic conditions so as to change the content of radionuclides, for example, radon and its DPR, in the air by inflow and / or air exhaust. This provides the ability to automatically maintain safe indoor conditions.

An additional advantage of the present invention is that the emitting IR diode can have a large power and, therefore, emit a powerful stream of infrared radiation. Since infrared radiation is usually well reflected, it is not necessary to direct the IR diode to the infrared radiation sensor in the controlled device. This provides greater freedom in the installation of the device in accordance with the present invention, which may be necessary, since the electrical outlet can be located in places where there is no possibility of direct transmission of infrared radiation from the source to the receiver.

The emitting IR diode, as a source, has no power restrictions due to the fact that the present device is connected to the electric network and there are no restrictions on the power consumption characteristic of devices with autonomous (that is, not connected to the electric network, for example, battery) power due to the small energy reserve of an autonomous power source and the need to ensure a long service life. Thus, the distinguishing feature of the present invention - the need to connect to an electrical network - provides the ability not only to implement an effective and sensitive device that collects radionuclides from the air, including radon DPR, and determines the activity (concentration) of radionuclides in air (including, for example , and radon), but also the possibility of using a high-power emitting IR diode, which makes it possible to control devices by means of infrared radiation in practice from any location of the device.

In some embodiments, the processing unit may control external devices in accordance with the received control signals, thereby providing remote control of the connection of the external device to the network through the device in accordance with the present invention. In addition, in private embodiments, the communication module can receive control signals from one external device and transmit them to other external devices. This can provide remote control and data exchange or transmission, for example, with the aim of monitoring the situation and / or preserving predetermined conditions, for example, the environment.

It should be noted that the transmission of control signals using a source of infrared radiation, for example, such as an infrared diode, can be carried out not only in the device in accordance with the present invention, but also in any other devices for determining the content of radionuclides in the air, including in determination devices radon / thoron content, as well as in any other devices connected to the electrical network. In this case, any of the above control options can be implemented, including the described options using infrared radiation sources (including IR diodes), and all the above-described advantages provided by them.

In accordance with FIG. 3 from the processing module 352, the processed data, mainly representing the result of processing the sensor signal in the processing unit, and / or the sensor signal can be sent to an indicator 307, which can display the signal level, registration events of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation and / or characteristics obtained by processing the signal in the processing module 352. The indicator may be a single element, a ruler or a matrix of elements that can emit light or change the reflection characteristics or light transmission. For example this there can be LED, liquid crystal and any other elements that allow you to visually display data or a signal. The indicator can visually (light) display the facts of the determination (registration, detection) of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation and / or the speed of registration (detection) of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation per unit time and / or concentration (activity) of radionuclides (for example, radon and / or its DPR) in ambient air. In addition, the indicator may contain a sound element configured to provide sound signals for sound displaying the facts of registration of alpha particles and / or beta particles and / or gamma radiation, frequency or intensity of radiation, dangerous levels of concentration or activity of radionuclides, radon , radiation, etc.

The indicator light in some cases may contain elements designed to display letters, numbers and other characters. In general, individual indicator elements can be point elements (round, square, and other forms of small size elements) that can display letters, numbers, and other symbols when assembled into matrices.

In addition to displaying data, the indicator in some cases can transmit control signals. This is possible in cases where the display and / or sounding elements can display and / or sound control signals in the form necessary for receiving these signals by the receiving devices. For example, in addition to displaying data in the visible light range, the indicator (or its individual elements) may have the ability to emit in the infrared range, which is traditionally used to transmit control signals. Such an implementation of the indicator can eliminate the need for an additional communication module and, thereby, reduce the size and weight of the device.

In addition to transmitting or displaying data or a sensor signal, in some embodiments of the device, the data and / or sensor signal may be stored in the device memory. The device memory can be permanently installed in the device or removable, for example, a memory card or flash drive. To connect removable storage media, the device can be equipped with appropriate connectors, for example, a USB connector or memory card connectors, such as SD, CF, MMS and others of any format / size. The above describes many options that can be performed with the data obtained as a result of processing the sensor signal by the signal itself: the signal or data can be stored in a memory card, transmitted for display in an indicator, transmitted to other devices through a communication module or electrical connector. However, it should be noted that the transfer of data obtained during signal processing, or the sensor signal itself, from the processing unit is not necessary for the implementation of the present invention, since this data or signal can be stored in the memory of the processing unit and retrieved from it, including in cases where the processing unit is turned off or in an inactive state, that is, formally without data or signal transmission by the processing unit. In addition, the processing unit may transmit control signals based on the results of processing the signal or data, and not the data or signal itself.

It should be noted that the transmission of data obtained as a result of signal processing and / or the sensor signal from the processing unit is preferably carried out. It should be noted that in addition to transmitting data and / or a sensor signal and / or a control signal from the processing unit to specific devices or systems, such transmission can be carried out without a specific receiving device or even without a receiving device, since it may not be known in what situation the data is transmitted or device signals. For example, control signals or data can be transmitted to an electrical connector, via an infrared emitter or a radio module, regardless of whether or not there is a receiver of the transmitted signal. This can be convenient in cases where it is not provided or there is no possibility of establishing a communication channel with feedback.

The transmission, display and / or storage of data and / or signal can be carried out individually (for example, one of these actions) or together in various combinations. Data from the processing unit and / or the sensor signal (directly from the sensor or through the processing unit) can be transmitted and / or displayed and / or stored directly or averaged over a specified period of time (for example, 1, 5, 10, 15, 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12 hours, one or several days, a week or more). Averaging can reduce the amount of information transmitted.

To ensure the health of the processing unit 305 and its constituent amplifier 351 and processing module 352, transmission module 306 and indicator 307, the power supply 302 advantageously comprises a low voltage module 322. 7 000934

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The low voltage module is configured to supply less than the voltage between the connecting electrodes of the connecting element to the respective blocks and modules. These modules and units usually require constant or pulsed power supply of constant polarity, and several power voltages and / or different signs may be required.

The low voltage module is preferably an AC voltage rectifier with a stabilizer of its magnitude. At the same time, the rectifier and / or voltage regulator can be included in the processing unit, its modules or components, as well as in the communication module and / or indicator, and therefore, in some embodiments, the low voltage module can only lower the input voltage. The low voltage module can be connected to the connecting electrodes and receive input voltage from the electrical network. In other embodiments, the low voltage module may receive input voltage from the high voltage module.

In some embodiments of the device, the low-voltage module may be absent if the processing unit, communication module and / or indicator are supplied from autonomous power sources, such as electrical elements (including galvanic, electrochemical, light, thermal, electromechanical and others), batteries, accumulators, etc.

In this regard, the low voltage supply module is not a mandatory element for the implementation of the present invention, since the processing unit, communication module, indicator and / or other low-voltage elements / components of the device can perform their functions without it, for example, as described above, due to power from autonomous power supplies. At the same time, the presence of a low-voltage module in the power supply unit (or, in other words, providing power for the processing unit, communication module, indicator and / or other low-voltage elements / components of the device with the power supply unit) eliminates the need to replace autonomous power sources.

It should be noted that the power supply performs its functions mainly only when connected to an electric network. The device may, in some embodiments, comprise rechargeable autonomous power sources, such as, for example, batteries, ionistors, and the like, which can ensure the functioning of the device or its parts without being connected to the network, however, they are necessary only to ensure that some functions are performed in the disconnected off network condition, such as data storage, set time, etc. The main advantage of the present invention, namely, that the electric potential on the electrostatic electrode has a constant component relative to surrounding objects, including the electric network, earth, walls (often made of reinforced concrete and grounded), is provided when connected to the electric network.

Electrical connection of elements, components, blocks, modules, wires and other objects mentioned in the application can be carried out either directly, galvanically, or by other elements or components that change the transmitted signal, voltage or current in the part that does not affect the implementation of the essence invention in a particular connection, but not changing or changing within the permissible limits the transmitted signal, voltage or current in the part that affects the implementation of the essence of the invention Ia a particular compound. For example, a connection through resistance can change the signal level, but its shape remains the same, and connection through a capacitance may not transmit a constant component of a signal, voltage or current, but it transmits a variable component. All such compounds are included in the scope of the invention if they do not alter its essence.

The above-described embodiments of the invention are given only for the purpose of explaining the invention and are not intended to limit its essence and scope, which are determined by the following claims. The present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, and it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made to the practice of the invention without departing from the scope of the present invention. Differences between the embodiments for the present invention are not significant and the embodiments may be used individually or in combination. Although functional block diagrams were used to describe the devices in the above embodiments, some parts of the device or its functions can be implemented in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor (or controller), or in a combination of these means.

The program module can be placed on any type of storage medium, such as RAM (Random Access Memory, Random Access Memory), flash memory, ROM (Read Only Memory, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM, Erasable Programmable read-only memory), EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable ROM, Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), register, hard disk, removable disk or CD (Compact Disk, CD-ROM).

The storage medium is connected to the processor so that the processor can read and write information from and to the storage medium. The storage medium may also be integrated into the processor. The storage medium and processor can also be performed on the ASIC (specialized chip) located in the device, or in the form of discrete components.

The present description is intended to disclose the invention with the completeness sufficient for understanding by a person skilled in the art, and is not intended to limit the scope of protection. The scope and nature of the present invention are determined by the claims, which follows and, if necessary, may include the features of the above description.

Claims

CLAIM

1. A device for determining the content of radionuclides in the ambient air, including: at least one electrostatic electrode installed to allow radionuclides from the air near the device to reach it; at least one sensor installed to detect alpha particles and/or beta particles and/or gamma radiation emitted by radionuclides on the electrostatic electrode and/or near the electrostatic electrode; a processing unit configured to receive and process the sensor signal; at least two connecting electrodes configured to be electrically connected to an electrical network; and a power supply configured to receive electrical voltage from the connecting electrodes and supply to at least one of the electrostatic electrodes an electrical voltage with a DC component relative to the one or more connecting electrodes, the absolute value of which is greater than the absolute value of the DC component and/or the root mean square value alternating voltage component between the connecting electrodes.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the constant component of the electrical voltage on the electrostatic electrode relative to one or more connecting electrodes in absolute value has a value of no less than 300V and no more than 300V, or no less than 500V and no more than 2000V, or no less 1000V and no more than 1500V.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor is made in the form of at least one open air ionization chamber.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one electrostatic electrode is one of the electrodes of at least one ionization chamber.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a communication module containing an infrared emitting diode and configured to transmit control signals through the infrared emitting diode.