Polimaster PM1403 User manual

АLPHA-BETA RADIATION
DETECTOR
BDAB
OPERATION MANUAL

2
CONTENTS
1 General .................................................................................................................................... 4
2 BDAB delivery kit ................................................................................................................... 5
3 Technical specifications ........................................................................................................... 6
4 Design and operation principle ............................................................................................... 9
4.1 BDAB design ...................................................................................................................... 9
4.2 Handle. Telescopic extension tube ..................................................................................... 10
4.3 Operation principle ............................................................................................................ 11
4.4 BDAB marking ................................................................................................................. 12
4.5 Package ............................................................................................................................. 12
5 Making BDAB ready for operation ...................................................................................... 13
5.1 General instructions ........................................................................................................... 13
5.2 BDAB power supply ......................................................................................................... 13
5.3 Safety measures ................................................................................................................. 13
5.4 Functionality check of BDAB............................................................................................ 14
6 Using BDAB with Spectroscopic Radiation Monitor РМ1403 ............................................ 15
6.1 Switch on/off BDAB ......................................................................................................... 15
6.2 Operation modes ................................................................................................................ 17
6.2.1 Measurement mode of - radiation flux density ("α Measurement Mode") ................... 18
6.2.2 Measurement mode of β- radiation flux density ("β Measurement Mode") .................... 20
6.2.3 Search mode of - β- radiation sources ....................................................................... 22
6.3 BDAB settings ................................................................................................................... 23
7 Using BDAB with Display and Control Unit РМ1403 ......................................................... 24
7.1 Switch on/off BDAB ......................................................................................................... 24
7.2 Operation modes ............................................................................................................... 25
7.2.1 Measurement mode of - radiation flux density (" Measurement Mode") ................... 26
7.2.2 Measurement mode of β- radiation flux density ("β Measurement Mode") ................... 27
7.2.3 Search mode of - β- radiation sources ........................................................................ 28
7.3 BDAB settings .................................................................................................................. 28
8 Using BDAB with PC ............................................................................................................ 29
9 Technical maintenance .......................................................................................................... 29
10 Troubleshooting ................................................................................................................... 29
11 Disposal ................................................................................................................................ 29

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Thank You for purchasing Аlpha-Beta Radiation Detector BDAB manufactured by
Polimaster.
Current Operation manual provides information on the design, construction, operation
principle of Аlpha-Beta Radiation Detector BDAB (further – “BDAB”). The Operation Manual
contains key technical specifications of the instrument, operation and maintenance guidelines, and
procedures for metrological examination as well as other necessary information for correct instrument
operation and full utilization of its capabilities.
BDAB is documented as follows (according to state standard of manufacturer country):
"Аlpha-Beta Radiation Detector BDAB TY BY 100345122.060-2012".
Documented BDAB and its electric circuit, internal and external design and software are
subject to change in the manufacturing process with no substantial effect on their functionality or
technical and metrological performance. Hence, Polimaster reserves the right not to mention such
changes in the current Operation Manual.

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1 General
1.1 Designation and Application Range
1.1.1 BDAB is designed to:
- measure - radiation flux density;
- measure β- radiation flux density;
- search for - β- sources.
BDAB provides programming of the operation modes.
BDAB can be used by emergency, customs, frontier, and other service staff. The instruments
are used by radiological and isotope tracing laboratories and customs officers to identify radionuclide
matter compositions, measure gamma radiation DER, search ionization sources to prevent the illicit
trafficking of radioactive materials. The instruments are also used by specialists in various industries,
including agriculture, transportation, medicine, and in nuclear-engineering facilities and anywhere
ionizing radiation sources are used.
The instrument is connected to the Spectroscopic Radiation Monitor РМ1403, Display and
Control Unit РМ1403 / Display and Control Unit РМ1403-01 or personal computer (further – PC)
via the RS-485 or USB interface.
Operation conditions:
 ambient air temperature from -20 to +50 °С;
 relative air humidity at 35 °С up to 95 %;
 atmospheric pressure from 84 to 106.7 kPa.

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2 BDAB delivery kit
Delivery kit of BDAB is presented in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1
Name, type Quantity
Аlpha-Beta Radiation Detector BDAB 1
Telescopic extension tube
1)
1
Cable No 2 (1.5 m)
1)
1
Cable No 2-1 (25 m)
1)
1
Cable No 2-2 (0.25 m)
1)
1
Cable No 3 1

- filter 10
Handle
1)
1
Nozzle
1)
1
Certificate
2)
1
CD (Software, Operation Manual)
1)
1
Package
3)
1
1) Supplied by user request, by separate order;
2) Verification procedure provided;
3) Another package can be used according to consumer requirements and delivery conditions
according to state standard requirements.

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3 Technical specifications
Technical specifications are presented in Table 3.1.
Table 3.1
3.1 Operation modes:
- measurement of - radiation density flux;
- measurement of - radiation density flux;
- search for - and - sources;
- programming operation modes of BDAB
3.2 Sensitivity of BDAB to

- radiation (
239
Pu) no less than 3.0 impulses

cm
2
3.3 Sensitivity of BDAB to - radiation (
90
Sr+
90
Y) no less than 2.0 impulsescm
2
3.4 Energy limits range of

- particles flux density measurement from 0.15 to 3.5 MeV
3.5 Energy dependence of BDAB sensitivity when measuring flux density of

- particles within the
range of 0.15 – 3.5 MeV energies shall differ from the typical dependence presented in Figure 3.1
no more than by  30 %.
0
1,3
1,2
1,1
1
0,9
0,8
0,7
0,6
0,5
0,4
0,3
0,2
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
E
max
Figure 3.1 – Typical dependence of BDAB sensitivity relative to -radiation energy
3.6 Measurement range of -radiation density flux
from 1.0 to 5∙105 min-1cm-2
3.7 Permissible limits of main measurement error
of - radiation flux density within range from 1.0
to 5∙105 min-1·cm-2 , no more than

(20 + А/φ) %,
where А – coefficient equal to 10 min-1·cm-2;
φ – measured density of - radiation flux
3.8 Measurement range of - radiation flux density
from 10.0 to 106 min-1·cm-2
3.9 Permissible limits of main relative error of -
radiation flux density within range from 10,0 to
106 min-1·cm-2 , no more than

(20 + А/φ) %,
where А – coefficient equal to 100 min-1·cm-2;
φ –
measured density of
β- radiation flux
3.10 In the search mode BDAB registers average count rate of

- radiation within 0.01 – 14

10
3
s
-
1
range or - radiation within 0.01 – 14103 s-1. If count rate exceeds the upper limit
of the
measurement range, the “OVL” message will be displayed by Spectroscopic Radiation Monitor
РM1403 / Display and Control Unit PM1403 or PC.

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Table 3.1 continued
3.11 BDAB enables the user to set and constantly monitor the threshold level of

- and

- radiation
fluxes through the whole measurement range and record the set threshold level of - and -
radiation density values in the instrument’s non-volatile memory
3.12 Spectroscopic Radiation Monitor РM1403 / Display and Control Unit PM1403 produces
discontinuous sound and light alarms and the analogue scale is being filled if set threshold of - and
- radiation flux density is reached/exceeded in the measurement mode of - and - radiation flux
density
3.13 Limits of permissible additional relative error
of DER measurement of - and - radiation must
be no more than:
- when ambient air changes from normal to -20°С
and from normal to + 50 °С
- at ambient air relative humidity 95 % at 35 °С
- when supply voltage changes from nominal to
extreme values during measurement of - and -
radiation flux density
- under exposure of magnetic field strength
400 A/m
- under
exposure of radiofrequency
electromagnetic fields
 10 %;
 10 %;
 5 % limits of permissible main error;
10 %;
 10 %
3.14 Limits of permissible additional relative error of

- radiation flux density measurement don’t
exceed 30 % under exposure of external gamma radiation field of 200 μR/h exposure rate and don’t
exceed 15 % under exposure of external -radiation 90Sr+90Y source producing external radiation no
less than 3.0103 s-1, placed at the distance (50  3) mm from the sensitive surface of BDAB;
3.15 Limits of permissible additional relative error of measurement of

-particles don’t exceed 15 %
under exposure of external gamma- radiation field up to 0.5 mR/h exposure dose rate;
3.16 Unstable BDAB readings when measuring

-
and -radiation flux density during continuous
operation (8 hours), no more than
5 %
3.17 Operation conditions:
- ambient air temperature range from -20 to +50 °С;
- relative humidity of ambient air up to 95 % at 35 С;
- atmospheric pressure from 84 to 106.7 kPa
3.18 BDAB is resistant to:
- sinusoidal vibration within5-500 Hz frequency range and shifting amplitude for frequencies
lower than transition frequency 0.075 mm;
- blows with 100 m/s2 acceleration, shock pulse duration 2-50 ms, blows repetition rate 60 -180
blows per minute.
3.19 Protection level of the BDAB case is IP64
3.20 Information exchange with Spectroscopic
Radiation Monitor РM1403 / Display and Control
Unit PM1403 or PC
RS-485 or USB interface

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Table 3.1 continued
3.21 BDAB supply voltage 3.6 (minus 0.6; +0.7) V
3.22 BDAB corresponds to IEC 61000-6-2:2005, IEC 61000-6-3:2006, EN 61326-1:2005
electromagnetic compatibility standards:
- is resistant to industrial frequency radiofrequency magnetic fields of 400 A/m voltage,
performance criterion А;
- is resistant to radiofrequency magnetic fields, test level 4 (30 V/m) within the frequency range
80 – 1000 MHz and 800 – 960 MHz, and 1.4 – 2.5 GHz (
when there is electromagnetic emission of
digital radiophones), performance criterion А;
- is resistant to electrostatic discharges, test level 3 (air discharge of 8 kV voltage, contact discharge
of 6 kV voltage), performance criterion В;
- is resistant to is resistant to
electromagnetic interference caused by radio frequency
electromagnetic fields, test level 3, performance criterion А;
- corresponds to EN 55022:2010 (B class) requirements by the level of emitted radio-noise
3.23 BDAB withstands falling onto a concrete floor (height 0.7m)
3.24 Maximum weight 0.45 kg
3.25 Overall dimensions 71х45х130 mm
3.26 Reliability figures:
- mean life before failure, no less than 20 000 hours;
- mean service life, no less than 10 years;
- mean time to recovery, no more than 60 min
For additional information on BDAB contact the manufacturer or visit www.polimaster.com

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4 Design and operation principle
4.1 BDAB design
Constructed as a monoblock, BDAB is enclosed in a shockproof container. Detector of α- β-
radiation is based on the proportional counter with a mica window.
General BDAB construction is presented in Figure 4.1.
a)
b)
a) front panel view;
b) back panel view.
Figure 4.1 – General view of BDAB

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Front panel bears:
1 – "ALPHA" LED" (α-measurement mode) – indication of On/Off state of the measurement
mode of α- radiation flux density;
2 – "ALARM" LED – for light alarms when set thresholds levels are exceeded;
3 – audio (sound) alarm – for sound alarms when set thresholds levels are exceeded;
4 –"POWER" LED – indication of On/Off states of the BDAB;
5 – "BETA" LED (β- measurement mode) – indication of On/Off state of the measurement
mode of β- radiation flux density.
Lower panel bears:
7 – Connector for PC or Spectroscopic Radiation Monitor РM1403 / Display and Control Unit
PM1403 (RS485 or USB interfaces);
8 – Hole to fasten a handle or telescopic extension tube.
Side BDAB panel bears connector for a cover of the counter window.
Back panel bears:
6 – gamma filter;
9 – input window of - - radiation detector;
10 – protection screen for input window of - - radiation detector. Screen protects against
mechanical injuries.
Center of the sensitive surface of BDAB is marked with the “X” sign on the front panel, on the
back panel, as well as on the gamma filter covering the window of BDAB.
There is - filter for measurements of - β- radiation flux density included into the delivery
set. The filter represents a bag (200x115 mm) made of made of polyethylene film (0.04 mm thick).
4.2 Handle. Telescopic extension tube
BDAB is equipped with a handle for convenient operation, and a telescopic extension tube to
enable access to hard-to-reach areas (up to 1.7 m), see Figure 4.2, position 1.
BDAB is installed onto the telescopic extension tube or handle as follows:
1) place the fastening (Figure 4.2, position 2) into the hole (Figure 4.1, position 7);
2) fast the fastener onto the extension tube, or a handle using a screw (Figure 4.2, position 3)
turning it clock-wise.