ML20204H986

Informs of Util Experience W/Nonlinearity Problems W/Digital Alarm Dosimeter Used by Dositec,Inc in Very High Radiation Fields.Vendor Agreed to Clarify Open Literature Advertising & Dispatched User Warning Ltr

ML20204H986
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	08/04/1986
From:	Baer R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE)
To:	Bellamy R, Dan Collins, Shafer W NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I), NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II), NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
Shared Package
ML20204H991	List: ML20204H986 ML20204J004
References
NUDOCS 8608080275
Download: ML20204H986 (4)

Text

-

n -

s .

1. UNITED STATES f NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 t a f ,

AUG 4 1986 d)

MEMORANDUM FOR:

Ronald R. Bellamy, Chief, EPRB, RI Douglas M. Collins, Chief, EPRB, RII ,

h Wayne D. Shafer, Chief EPRB, RIII William Fisher, Chief, RSPB, RIV Frank A. Wenslawski, Chief, EPRB, RV FROM:

Robert L. Baer, Chief Engineering and Generic Communications Branch Division of Emergency Preparedness and Engineering Response Office of Inspection and Enforcement

SUBJECT:

DIGITAL ALARM 00SIMETER NON-LINEARITY In May, 1986 Region I reported the Pilgrim facility had experienced non-linearity problems with a digital alarm dosimeter used in very high radiation fields (see enclosure 1 Dositec general description). According to the .,

licensee, their testing showed linearity only up to 9R/hr. At 24R/hr the dosimeter showed an underresponse of about 35%. The licensee believes this exhibited non-linearity at these dose rates was contrary to the vendor's literature (see enclosure 2). EGCB contacted the vendor who requested a meeting with EGCB in NRC headquarters.

As a result of our subsequent meeting in late May, the vendor agreed to clarify j his open literature advertising. Additionally, the vendor promptly dispatched to all customers by certified mail a user-warning letter and an updated speci-l fication sheet which better highlights the linearity limitations of this dosimeter (see enclosure 3). Note that three slightly different information packages were dispatched, one for each modified version of the dosimeter.

=_

i

(

8608080275 860004 PDR ADOCK 05000273 P pop I

f

Contact:

Jim Wigginton, IE -

492-4967

Multiple Addressees Since the vendor appears to have effectively clarified the linearity charac-teristics of the dosimeter and notified all end-users, IE plans no further generic action on this matter.

If you have.any questions on this issue, contact Jim Wigginton of my staff.

Robert L. Baer, Chief Engineering and Generic ,

Communications Branch Division of Emergency Preparedness and Engineering Response Office of Inspection and Enforcement

Enclosures:

As stated DISTRIBUTION "

JMTaylor ELJordan SASchwartz RLBaer '

JEWigginton .

RLPedersen JGPartlow BKGrimes RHeishman LJCunningham GSJoblom SSHsu EWBrach, E00 DCS DEPER R/F EGCB R/F

~JWigginton R/F I

j}y} ,g + 1.'. '

AEd:IE EG :DEPER:IE C:EGCB:DEPER:IE EC  :

RLBaer JE i inton .It'/ AWDromerick 8/ /86 8/.//86 8/t]/86

O. O .

A

. EnAosuo /

• IeBH g C"" DIGITAL ALARM DOSIMETER

~

GENERAL CESCRIPTION The DOS-502A rkusitec Digital Alarm Dosimeters provide digital readings of accumulated radiation exposure, a preset *.able and resettable constant alarm warning signal, and an optional chirper. These are the most reliable solid state personal digital alarm dosimeters available. They do not have the problems of high voltage, gas leakage, large size, and' sensitivity to j bregk,, lown._iA Aish_rgdiation cields, which are known to occur in the l

conventional type of Geiger tube dosimeters. They are small, light, and rugged pocket-size dosimeters.

The Dositec Digital Alarm Dosimeter has a unique Battery Test feature.

Pushing the sattery Test Switch causes the Battery Test LED lamp to light if the battery is still functioning odequately, indicating that the Dositec , '

' Digital AlarTn Dosimeter wili functicn accurately for at least 12 hours1.388889e-4 days <br />0.00333 hours <br />1.984127e-5 weeks <br />4.566e-6 months <br /> longer, even though the Battery Test LED lamp might fail to light during this 12-hour period.

A presectable and resettable continuous aloem is available. This alarm can be presat at any level of accumulated exposure from 0 to 9999 mR, providing an audible warning when the preset level is reached. The user can also reset the alarm and the dostmetor will provide this constant alarm again when the preset alarm point is reached once more.

E The accumulation and disp 15f of the integrated exposure levels are completely independent of the operation of the alarm. For example, if the alarm is preset at 12 mR and is rone: after the alarm sounds, it will sound again E af ter astadditional 12 mR. The display would then show total exposure of 24 a The Chirper Option, if chosen, gives one charp per mR. This optional chirper E provides radiation rate; i.e., the faster it chirps, the higher the radiatior field.

The Dosttec Digital Alarm Dosimeters may be calibrated by the users if destra The calibration is quite simple and the calibration method is included in the Tporating end Calibration Instruct. tons section in thin manual.

1 g __

NNb

• Ntr r teo a ftj

/

/

calls for papers MA A ag" lwl h

.s r., a 1985. Full paper deadllos: June aa WT M g

. . oi. .: tie submitted to I O. Werme, SK8.

is .

n o . eden. ,h -eine . . m 2, m . DETECTION tr..e Fichemese Sympesines, November 6-4, 1935, yve ned by the fnergy I)ivinson Council of m,, to, simi the us. Rese.rch in

,wns of Enersy. Papers are invited on the fol.

e.

Portable

,, m iew of industrial necds in sucig sectors as

.,r l. .hemical processing, anst B lass ladustries, as RWe

).3 ..: geam geneission: case histories of waste heat Ml{g

..e..e, .a thusc industnes; emerg(na technology, e geag StateDeteeler.

.n.ed cerasti.; heat eschenger, fluidiacd bed.

NoMginVoltage

.a. enchanger, and waste heat boiler designs:

.n.e heat cubanger neld caperience; heat ex- e W Cahrstest

.ri h sorroseon and fcelles la furnace flue gas , -

.na wn wnic kines, such as capital financias

• Dotamien Rege up te M Rfhr

.. equirements. relevant to heat exchanser applica. . RemoteIdenitoring up to 3000 t

'j e for 2.*0 word abstracts: Fettruary 25,1985. Sub.

,

• Undonoster DepSt CepehWey up le 100 h

.. Winston W. I.ians. Can Research Institute. 8600

'e u

4. Chwagn,111. rsD638. phone 312099-8383; or s IX)C.1000 Independence Ave.. S.W., Washine- gg

s *, phone 202/252 23no.

• Detests X & Gesune Reye

• Gend Stele Delmeden, Ne High Vedtage I n.ecady Flew, to be held la conjunction with the

'y ..

win;er Annual Meeting. Novcmher 17-21. 1985, CN v..nwed by the ASME Fluids Trandents Cum.

. ..rers on any topic related to unsteady flow are e 1.Inearity up te ge Nltr g' etical, einerintental. and practical expenence as- -

n I, of interest. Deadline to advise coordinator of PoRF M ^ I " ~- -

1.4 19M9. Deadline for 1000 wosd smooth draft: 190 Alesender street.F.O.Ges 4744 e

'. ' ' Dmera ready mais due: June' 14.1985. Sub . Preminghem,tiAttFet U$A m.sLe inquirm to Pessy Askerwn. Coordinator, Tel.qeifleype???

,[

I n teady tiow, Crearc R&D inc., P.O. Ros 7f, s ll 03755; phone 603/643 3800.

'h o u l d i.lr g ,, j y w E - lf A

" Jb ,ICatlOnS _ bi 9 a s

5 oR/M 7

\

=_

u

"-9y published ensir rir,, .uwws wm

• Coneuttemon u n.'. -

• Feilure Anshee I "' - -a .no s t is nada ases reeeeeena, by Harald e Frecture Mechenice

!*

• Nuklet contains the test of the eightlilecture in

'% Ta> tor 14cture Series la Radladan Protection

• R*eserch I .

nenis The lecture was presented by Roesi, pro.

' % at Columbia Ifniversity, in April 1984 at independent Testing Laboratories

{. ,

lecting a4 the National Council on Radiation . ,

1 Reseerdt Drive

~

,',' I \leasurements 15uficover. 3a peeri. 511. Order Scorey, AR 72143

\ tennal rouncil im Radiation Prosestion and Mee-i , ,

, S:0 Woodeont Ave., aperhenda, Md. 20814.) 1800643-8138 or 1401-2N-7191

.'.".r..  ;

See Us At Boodi No. 68, b Pouver fJink

% PoEey, amB8 t8.

_