RaMonA is an instrument for the detection of radon gas accumulation level, designed for safe and comfortable use, to be easily assembled and to make routine maintenance easier. The instrument is very compact and of simple and secure grip, with a compact weight and all designed insulation that make it suitable for an outdoor use.
Radon detection method: High Resolution Alpha Particles Spectrometry:
1. Radon concentration, flowing through a measuring chamber with a carrier gas, or emanating from a porous material, is measured by detection of alpha particles emitted from its descendants.
2. About an half of particles emitted by this isotope is detected. After the other decays in the chain, also the 214Po α-s are emitted on the detector surface.
3. A high voltage gradient in the cell walls, which are to 3kV respect to a silicon detector mounted at the centre of the chamber, produces the transport of the ionized fraction of 218Po atoms. Most of ions have to decay on the sensor. Ion mobility depends on air pressure P and temperature recombination probability depends on air humidity U and temperature T.
1. The instrument consists of a single volume, a unique solution, enclosing inside all the electronics for operation. Even the rechargeable battery is internal. The instrument has a quadrangular volume in plant and a trapezoidal profile composed of two shells.
2. The front hood is formed by a trapezoidal surface at the center of the hemispherical surface that forms the measuring chamber, where it is written Rn , on the bottom of the shell presents there are holes for the air ducts, covered by the opening door.
3. The main body, open in its front and closed at the other 5 sides, has in the back the panel dedicated to the user interface; the top part instead, it accommodates a cavity of suitable measures in order to use it to handle the device.
The device consists of the following elements:
1. An electrostatic collection chamber for ionized radon decay products on a silicon detector that allows alpha spectroscopy of these isotopes and their descendants. The chamber also houses three sensors for measuring temperature, pressure and humidity, the detector preamplifier and the circuits for conditioning the sensors.
2. A set of T, P and U sensors, for internal and external measurements, with relative conditioning circuit, directly connected to the system control module.
3. The control module, to which the first two elements are connected, which contains all the electronics, both linear and digital, for detector and sensor management, for local data storage, as well as high and low voltage power supplies.
1. The High resolution alpha spectrometry via an electrostatic collection chamber, allows the separation of Radon’s isotopes thus providing an high measurement accuracy in a continuous radon monitoring system.
2. The system provides a specific software to manage a network of stations for continuous real-time monitoring of Radon levels.
3. The independent observation of Po-218 alpha line allows to follow the radon detection with a delay of less than 30 minutes.
4. Internal and external measurement of environmental (T,P,H) parameters. These data are necessary for any forecasting models of Radon concentrations.
5. Internet of Things (IoT) device with Ethernet interface (LAN) and Wi-Fi connection supports the expansion of internet connection beyond the usual standard devices like computers, laptops and smartphones. This device is purely integrated with high definition technology which makes it possible for him to communicate or interact over the internet smoothly and can also be managed and controlled remotely when required.
6. Possibility of web-based access to measures and customization of the data analysis according to the customer's requests.
OVERVIEW
• Context
Monitor various rooms and/or locations and see when air quality reaches a poor level; view sensor values and temperature, humidity, and pressure sensors.
• Data Export
Export data to a CSV file for more in-depth analysis (for professionals)
- Data analysis and report generation
• Analyze historical data
- Mitigation and optimization
Determine ventilation improvement by quickly discovering when to open windows to cool the room.
OPERATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Ramona samples air through a diffusion chamber, using alpha spectrometry to accurately calculate radon levels. Radon is detected using a silicon photodiode to calculate and measure the energy of the alpha particles resulting from the radon gas decay chain.
CONNECTIVITY
Ramona is equipped with has wireless and wired connectivity for remote monitoring via the internet using a professional dashboard.
PROFESSIONAL DASHBOARD FEATURES
With Ramona's dashboard you can:
1. remotely monitor the device by customizing measurements;
2. request the generation of complete and customizable PDF reports for your customers.
The Dashboard complements the Ramona device as a professional radon measurement tool.
THEORY OF OPERATION
The Radon (Rn-222) gas concentration will be measured by the short living daughter products, generated by the Radon decay inside a measurement chamber. Directly after the decay, the remaining Po-218 nuclei becomes charged positively for a short period, because some shell electrons are scattered away by the emitted alpha particle. Those ions are collected by the electrical field forces on the surface of a semiconductor detector. The number of collected Po-218 ions is proportional to the Radon gas concentration inside the chamber.Po-218 itself decays with a half life time of only 3.05 Minutes and about 50% (particles emitted towards the detector surface) of all decays will be registered by the detector. The equilibrium between the Radon decay rate and Po-218 detector activity is given after about 5 half life times, say 15 Minutes. This time span defines the minimum achievable response time to a Radon concentration step. Now,the decay chain is continued by the both beta emitters Pb-214 and Bi-214 followed by another alpha emitter, the Po-214. That means, each Po-218 decay causes one more detectable decay by the Po-214 which is delayed about 3 hours because of the superposed half life times of those nuclides. The emission energies of Po-218 and Po-214 are different and therefore it is possible to separate both nuclides from each other by alpha spectroscopy.
CUSTOMER INTERESTS AND NEEDS
• For home
Ramona is a radon gas detector device that allows you to monitor the quality of the air you breathe, in order to achieve an ideal healthier environment in your home where the whole family lives.
• For companies
Ramona, through air quality monitoring, helps to improve and optimize the ventilation of an office, an apartment or a building to ensure not only the healthiness of any working environment but also to help make it healthier and more productive.
• For radon professionals
Ramona is the right tool for radon professionals and companies that perform measurements and technical inspections.
Applications:
1. Continuous radon monitoring in residential and commercial environments
2. Continuous radon monitoring in agencies and public institutions (schools etc.) or in public places
3. Continuous radon monitoring in industries
4. Continuous radon monitoring in underground environments (tunnels, mines, ect.)
5. Radon monitoring in multiple environments:
radiological facilities, nuclear medicine laboratories and surgeries, industrial laboratories equipped with radiogenic sources, irradiation facilities for sterilization
6. Radon monitoring in museums, art galleries, generally premises housing sensitive assets.
7. Air monitoring in thermal establishments, where the concentration of the isotope 222 in air could vary violently according to the various phases of the activity (sludge handling, state of the openings, ...).
8. Continuous Radon monitoring in underground laboratories where it would be interesting to evaluate the degree of interference between the signals produced by radon in the air and the signals observed by the experiments conducted there.
9. Radon Monitoring for remediation planning
10. Radon monitoring in new buildings
REAL-TIME INDOOR MONITORING
Real-time monitoring of indoor air quality is essential if you want to mitigate and as much as possible reduce potential negative health effects. The online dashboard is the quick and easy solution to:
• visualize
• compare
• export
all data according to your specific needs. Radon levels fluctuate over time and are influenced by elements in our environment. Monitoring over long periods of time allows you to account for these fluctuations, providing more accurate and meaningful results.
Radon sampling: Diffusion chamber
Measurement Method: Alpha Particles Spectrometry
Detector/Sensor Type: Large active area Si PIN photodiode
Sensitivity: 5.2∙10
-4 CPM / (Bq/m3)
Operation Flow: Free flow, induction flow, pipe inlet, closed chamber
Sampling Flow Rate: 0.5 L / min
Measurement Cycle Time: since 20 minutes
Calibration: Factory calibrated
Environmental Sensors:
- Relative Humidity
- Temperature
- Barometric Pressure
Data storage: Non-volatile memory, Micro SD Class 4 MicroSDHC
Power supply:
- Mains power supply: 5V, 5Watt
- Battery: 3 Cell (7.8Ah)
Interface: Ethernet, Wi-Fi
Controls: Single switch, measurement/stand-by Display
Dimensions: 164 x 161 x 173 mm
Weight: 1660g ca.(with battery)
Housing: ABS plastic
PACKAGE CONTENTS
Radon detector
Ramona Manual
Patent PD2008A000204
Method and apparatus for the detection of the fraction of remote origin of radon present in a measurement site Inventors: Vincenzo Roca , Carlo Sabbarese, Mariagabriella Pugliese
Owner: National Institute Of Nuclear Physics
License: License agreement signed on February 6, 2013 with INFN
• R. Buompane, V. Roca, C. Sabbarese, M. Pugliese, M. Quarto, C. Mattone, “222Rn+220Rn monitoring by alpha spectrometry”. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, Volume 160, Issue 1-3, July 2014, Pages 173–176, https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncu071
• G. Venoso, F. De Cicco, B. Flores, L. Gialanella, M. Pugliese, V. Roca, C. Sabbarese, “Radon concentrations in schools of the Neapolitan area”, Radiation Measurements, Volume 44, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 127-130, ISSN 1350-4487, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2008.10.002
• V. Roca, A. Boiano, A. Esposito, S. Guardato, M. Pugliese, M. Sabbarese, G. Venoso "A monitor for continuous and remote control of radon level and environmental parameters“, IEEE Symposium Conference Record Nuclear Science 2004., Rome, 2004, pp. 1563-1566 Vol. 3. https://10.1109/NSSMIC.2004.1462538
• W. De Cesare, G. Scarpato, C. Buonocunto, A. Caputo, M. Capello, R. Avino, V. Roca, F. Cicco, M. Pugliese, C. Sabbarese, F. Giudicepietro. (2011). “Installazione di una stazione per la rilevazione continua radon mediante spettrometria alfa nella solfatara di Pozzuoli”.
• F.De Cicco, R.Buompane, U.Marseglia, C.Mattone, M.Pugliese, M.Quarto, V.Roca, C.Sabbarese, F.Giudicepietro, W.De Cesare, I. Aquino,C. Del Gaudio, C. Ricco (2012). “Methods for the characterization of a seismo-volcanic area using radon, thoron and their parents”. Conference: 11th international workshop on the geological aspects of radon risk mappingAt: Prague, Czech RepublicVolume: Proceedings pagg. 80-85, 03/09 446-416-12 ISBN 978-80-7075-789-5
What is Ramona device?
RaMonA (Radon Monitoring and Acquisition System) is a device for the detection of radon gas accumulation level, designed for safe and comfortable use, to be easily assembled and to make routine maintenance easier. The instrument is very compact and of simple and secure grip, with a compact weight and all designed insulation that make it suitable for an outdoor use.
What is the Radon
detection method for Ramona device?
The Radon detection method for Ramona is the High Resolution Alpha Particles Spectrometry:
• Radon concentration, flowing through a measuring chamber with a carrier gas, or emanating from a porous material, is measured by detection of alpha particles emitted from its descendants.
• About an half of particles emitted by this isotope is detected. After the other decays in the chain, also the 214Po α-s are emitted on the detector surface.
• A high voltage gradient in the cell walls, which are to 3kV respect to a silicon detector mounted at the centre of the chamber, produces the transport of the ionized fraction of 218Po atoms. Most of ions have to decay on the sensor. Ion mobility depends on air pressure P and temperature recombination probability depends on air humidity U and temperature T.
What and how many are the fundamental parts of Ramona device?
The instrument consists of a single volume, a unique solution, enclosing inside all the electronics for operation. Even the rechargeable battery is internal. The instrument has a quadrangular volume in plant and a trapezoidal profile composed of two shells.
The front hood is formed by a trapezoidal surface at the center of the hemispherical surface that forms the measuring chamber, where it is written Rn , on the bottom of the shell presents there are holes for the air ducts, covered by the opening door.
The main body, open in its front and closed at the other 5 sides, has in the back the panel dedicated to the user interface; the top part instead, it accommodates a cavity of suitable measures in order to use it to handle the device.
What are the inside components of Ramona device?
The device consists of the following elements:
• An electrostatic collection chamber for ionized radon decay products on a silicon detector that allows alpha spectroscopy of these isotopes and their descendants. The chamber also houses three sensors for measuring temperature, pressure and humidity, the detector preamplifier and the circuits for conditioning the sensors.
• A set of T, P and U sensors, for internal and external measurements, with relative conditioning circuit, directly connected to the system control module.
• The control module, to which the first two elements are connected, which contains all the electronics, both linear and digital, for detector and sensor management, for local data storage, as well as high and low voltage power supplies.
What are the strengths of Ramona device?
• The High resolution alpha spectrometry via an electrostatic collection chamber, allows the separation of Radon’s isotopes thus providing an high measurement accuracy in a continuous radon monitoring system.
• The system provides a specific software to manage a network of stations for continuous real-time monitoring of Radon levels.
• The independent observation of Po-218 alpha line allows to follow the radon detection with a delay of less than 30 minutes.
• Internal and external measurement of environmental (T,P,H) parameters. These data are necessary for any forecasting models of Radon concentrations.
• Internet of Things (IoT) device with Ethernet interface (LAN) and Wi-Fi connection supports the expansion of internet connection beyond the usual standard devices like computers, laptops and smartphones. This device is purely integrated with high definition technology which makes it possible for him to communicate or interact over the internet smoothly and can also be managed and controlled remotely when required.
• Possibility of web-based access to measures and customization of the data analysis according to the customer's requests.
What are the most important applications of Ramona device?
• Continuous radon monitoring in residential and commercial environments
• Continuous radon monitoring in agencies and public institutions (schools etc.) or in public places
• Continuous radon monitoring in industries
• Continuous radon monitoring in underground environments (tunnels, mines, ect.)
• Radon monitoring in multiple environments:
radiological facilities, nuclear medicine laboratories and surgeries, industrial laboratories equipped with radiogenic sources, irradiation facilities for sterilization
• Radon monitoring in museums, art galleries, generally premises housing sensitive assets.
• Air monitoring in thermal establishments, where the concentration of the isotope 222 in air could vary violently according to the various phases of the activity (sludge handling, state of the openings, ...).
• Continuous Radon monitoring in underground laboratories where it would be interesting to evaluate the degree of interference between the signals produced by radon in the air and the signals observed by the experiments conducted there.
• Radon Monitoring for remediation planning
• Radon monitoring in new buildings
