The ORNL Surveillance and Maintenance Radiological Controls (RadCon) team found a new way to support crews working on the Continuous Purge System (CPS) at the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE). Radiological Protection Technician Jessica Ferguson had the idea to use equipment UCOR already owns in a new way to create a safer environment for all.
Historically, UCOR used telemetry to monitor personnel dose rates live while performing work in variable conditions. The MSRE CPS project is one of a kind, making the anticipation of RadCon changes challenging. With that in mind, Ferguson implemented a more efficient system—a monitoring location outside of the high bay area at MSRE, allowing personnel to view live dose rates and radiological air quality conditions without the need to enter the high bay for physical measurements.
“I had already used telemetry for remote personnel dose rate monitoring, so using the same technology for remote area monitoring was the logical solution,” Ferguson said. “Our group is fortunate to have air monitoring equipment in our inventory that also has the capability to be remotely viewed, although that function had not previously been used by UCOR.”
Through help from IT and cyber security personnel, permissions were granted for the use of this equipment for remote monitoring of RadCon conditions in the fuel drain tank pit.
