ECOTEST MKS-05 TERRA-P+ User manual

MKS-05 “TERRA-P+”
DOSIMETER-RADIOMETER
Operating manual
ВIСТ.412129.021-02 КЕ

Dear users,
You had chosen well if purchased a device of “ECOTEST” trademark manufactured by
“Sparing-Vist Center”. Your device is easy to use and can be applied for household purposes
without special training of the user. Should any questions arise, please contact our managers by
telephone [phone], fax [phone] or e-mail [email protected].
We would greatly appreciate to receive your comments and suggestions on its operation. The
device is under 18-months (free of charge) warranty maintenance.
Best regards, International Sales Department.

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CONTENTS
PREFACE...............................................................................................................8
1 PURPOSE OF USE ............................................................................................11
2TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ......................................................................12
3 DELIVERY KIT ................................................................................................18
4 DESIGN AND PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION ...................................................20
5 PREPARATION FOR OPERATION AND TESTING........................................24
6 USE OF THE DOSIMETER...............................................................................31
7 TECHNICAL MAINTENANCE ........................................................................46
8 CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE...................................................................48
9 PACKING CERTIFICATE.................................................................................49
10 WARRANTY...................................................................................................50

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11 REPAIR ...........................................................................................................52
12 STORAGE .......................................................................................................53
13 SHIPPING........................................................................................................54
WARRANTY CERTIFICATE ..............................................................................55

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Ionizing radiation is a natural phenomenon permanently existing in the
environment. Radiation background of the Earth and the space adversely affects us
on the regular basis. We are constantly influenced by natural radioactive materials
stored in soil and construction materials of the buildings we live and work in. It also
happens that more and more frequently we are exposed to the radioactive influence
of specific life activities, for example, certain medical procedures, smoking etc. To
say nothing of the impact of radioactive sources of artificial origin produced by
Chernobyl Fallout that caused contamination of the vast territories. Therefore not
only natural ionizing radiation but also Chernobyl Atomic Power-Station Disaster
component that gets into human organism with agricultural products, grown on the
polluted territories, berries and mushrooms, makes a great impact on people.
Ionizing radiation is primarily X-ray, gamma, beta, alpha and neutron radiation.

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X-ray and gamma radiation is transmitted as energy waves, similar to the
transmission of sunlight and sun warmth. X-ray and gamma radiation have similar
nature. They differ only in their origin and wavelength.
Normally, humans are influenced by X-rays emanated by electronic apparatuses
used in hospitals.
Gamma rays are radiated by unstable radioactive isotopes.
X-ray and gamma radiation is characterized by deep permeability into human
organism, which is dependent on the energy of the rays. Gamma radiation permeability
is so high that it can be hindered only by the thick lead or concrete plates.
Alpha radiation is a flow of nucleuses of helium. It has small permeability and
can be hindered, for example, simply by a piece of paper. Therefore it is not
hazardous until radioactive materials emanating alpha particles get into human
organism either through open wound, or with food and air.

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Beta radiation is a flow of electrons. Beta radiation obtains higher permeability
and penetrates organism tissues at the depth of 1-2 cm.
Neutron radiation is a flow of neutrons originating from the process of nuclear
fission in the reactors, or as a result of spontaneous division in the nuclear materials.
Since neutrons are electroneutral particles they deeply penetrate any substance,
including living tissues.
However, because people are more often exposed to gamma and beta radiation in
everyday life, the majority of radiation monitoring devices measure exactly these
kinds of radiation. As a matter of fact, the MKS-05 “TERRA-P+” dosimeter-
radiometer, designed on the base of the modern professional dosimeter-radiometer
MKS-05 “TERRA” exported into different countries and remaining an equipment
choice for the Ukrainian force structures, serves to prevent gamma and beta radiation
hazard.

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Preface
This operating manual (hereinafter referred to as the OM) is intended to inform
the user about the principles of operation of the MKS-05 “TERRA-P+” dosimeter-
radiometer and its operation procedure. The OM contains all information necessary
for proper use of the dosimeter and full realization of its technical possibilities.
The MKS-05 “TERRA-P+” dosimeter-radiometer is a household device, and
can not be used as an instrument for formal (professional) measurements.
The MKS-05 “TERRA-P+” dosimeter-radiometer is calibrated according to the
standard sources of ionizing radiation after manufacture and is not subject to
verification.

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The OM contains the following abbreviations and symbols:
DE -ambient dose equivalent;
DER -ambient dose equivalent rate;
MODE -on/off button and switch between the corresponding
modes of indication (gamma radiation DER, gamma
radiation DE, surface beta-particles flux density, DE
accumulation time, and real time);
THRESHOLD -button of threshold levels programming,correction of
clock time and backlight switching-on.

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Note. Ambient dose equivalent (expressed in “Sieverts” (“Sv”)) characterizes the
influence of ionizing gamma radiation on the biological object (human), as opposed
to exposure dose (expressed in “Roentgens (“R”)”) that characterizes the capacity of
gamma radiation to ionize the air. Generally, to make it simple, use the coefficient
circa 100 to covert ambient dose equivalent units into exposure dose units:
1.0 μSv 100.0 μR.
Dose rate conversion, correspondingly: 1.0 μSv/h  100.0 μR /h.
Natural radiation background normally equals circa 0.1 μSv/h (10 μR /h).

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1Purpose of use
The MKS-05 “TERRA-P+” dosimeter-radiometer (hereinafter called the
dosimeter) is designed to measure ambient dose equivalent (DE) and ambient dose
equivalent rate (DER) of gamma radiation , and surface beta-particles flux density.
The dosimeter is used in everyday life for apartment, building and construction
monitoring, ground surface of infields and vehicles monitoring, for products and
clothes monitoring, for evaluation of radioactive contamination of wild berries and
mushrooms, as well as visual aids for educational establishments.

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2Technical specifications
2.1 Key specifications are presented in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1 –Key specifications
Name Unit of
measurement
Standardized value
according to the
technical
specifications
1 2 3
1 Measurement range of gamma radiation DER μSv/h 0.1 –5000
2 Main relative permissible error limit of
gamma radiation DER measurement with
confidence probability of 0.95 (calibrated
relative to 137Cs)
%
±(25+2/ )(H 10

),
where )(H 10

is a
numeric value of the
measured DER in
μSv/h

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Table 2.1 (continued)
1 2 3
3 Measurement range of gamma radiation DE mSv 0.001 - 9999
4 Main relative permissible error limit of
gamma radiation DE measurement with
confidence probability of 0.95
%±25
5 Energy range of registered gamma radiation MeV 0.05 – 3.00
6 Energy dependence of the dosimeter readings
at gamma radiation DER and DE measurement
in the energy range from 0.05 to 1.25 MeV
%±25
7 Measurement range of surface beta-particles
flux density part./(cm2 min) 10 - 105

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Table 2.1 (continued)
1 2 3
8 Main relative permissible error limit of beta-
particles flux density measurement with 0.95
confidence probability
(calibrated relative to 90Sr+90Y) %


200
20 ,
β
φis a numeric
value of the
measured
surface flux
density in
part./(cm2·min)
9Energy range of registered beta-particles MeV 0.5 – 3.0
10 Measurement range of DE accumulation time
with measurement resolution of 1 min h 100

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Table 2.1 (continued)
1 2 3
11 Battery life (ENERGIZER AAAx2 of
1280 mA·h capacity) under natural background
radiation, not less than
hour 2000
12 General operating supply voltage of the
dosimeter from two AAA size batteries V3.0
13 Mean time to failure, not less than hour 6000
14 Average service life, not less than year 6
15 Average shelf life, not less than year 6
16 Dimensions, not more than mm 5526120
17 Weight, not more than kg 0.15

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2.2 Threshold level values of gamma radiation DER in the range from 0 to
5000 μSv/h with discreetness of 0.01 μSv/h are programmed in the dosimeter.
Threshold level value is set automatically after the dosimeter is switched on and
equals 0.30 µSv/h. It corresponds to the maximum permissible level of gamma
background for premises in compliance with the regulatory documents of Ukraine.
2.3 Threshold level values of gamma radiation DE in the range from 0 to
9999 mSv with discreteness of 0.001 mSv are programmed in the dosimeter.
2.4 Threshold level values of surface beta-particles flux density in the range from
0 to 9999·103part./(cm2·min) with discreteness of 0.01·103part./(cm2·min) are
programmed in the dosimeter.

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2.5 The dosimeter sends a one-tone audio signal if gamma quantum or beta-
particle gets to the detector, and a two-tone audio signal if the programmed DER, DE
or surface beta-particles flux density threshold levels have been exceeded.
2.6 Low battery status is indicated by the dosimeter.
2.7 DER, DE and surface beta-particles flux density values as well as DER, DE
and surface beta-particles flux density threshold level values appear on the digital
LCD indicating the correspondence of information. The values of DER and DER
threshold level are expressed in µSv/h, the values of surface beta-particles flux
density and surface beta-particles flux density threshold level are expressed in
103part./(cm2·min), and the values of DE and DE threshold level are expressed in
mSv.

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2.8 The dosimeter performs measurements under the following conditions:
-temperature from – 20 to + 50 оС;
- relative humidity up to (95±3) % at + 35 оС;
- atmospheric pressure from 84 to 106.7 kPa.
3Delivery kit
3.1 The delivery kit consists of the items and maintenance documentation
presented in Table 3.1.

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Table 3.1 – Delivery kit of the dosimeter
Type Item Quantity Note
ВІСТ.412129.021-02 MKS-05 “TERRA-P+”
dosimeter-radiometer 1 pc.
ВІСТ.412129.021-02
КЕ
Operating manual 1 copy
ВІСТ.412915.001 Package 1 pc.
ENERGIZER AAA size battery of 1.5 V 2 pcs.
Other AAA batteries
of 1.5 V voltage are
permissible.
Supplied at
customer’s request.

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4Design and principle of operation
4.1 General information
The dosimeter is a mono block construction with a built-in detector of gamma
and beta radiation (Geiger-Muller counter), a printed-circuit board equipped with
electronic components, and batteries.
The operation principle of the dosimeter is based on transformation of radiation
by Geiger-Muller counter into the sequence of voltage pulses; the number of pulses is
proportional to the registered radiation intensity.
The power for operation is supplied by two AAA batteries.
4.2 Design description
The dosimeter is designed as a flat square plastic body with rounded corners
(Figure 1).