Hydrofracking Radium Portable Water Monitor System | Technical Associates

General Description
Many communities already face high levels of Radium in their well water. Hydrofracking releases trapped radiation, including Radium, from underground formations into mobile water flow, including groundwater, or industry generated wastewater, sludge, or brine. With current trends for hydrofracking the urgency for testing Radium levels has increased.
The Hydrofracking Radium Portable Water Monitor System, Radium-TA, provides quick on-site detection of Radium generated by the hydrofracking process, in groundwater, well water and in hydrofracking wastewater, sludge and brine.

Also detects Alpha emitters in water samples
In situ testing prevents the expense and lag time of sending in samples for laboratory testing.
Roadside Chemical Spill; Industrial Accident; Improper Dumping of Industrial Waste.

End Users: Oil and Gas Industry, First Responders, state and federal health agencies, citizen groups, municipal utilities.

Technical Description
The Hydrofracking Radium Portable Water Monitor System includes multiple components: a pump with a radium collection cell, and a scintillation detector with a scaler. A two-step process is involved:

1) Water is pulled through the collection cell for a standard period of time.
2) The scintillator/scaler receives the sample and counts the activity.

Note: A longer pull time increases sensitivity and gives a sensitivity measurement down to 1 picoCi/liter.

Evaluation Criteria

THROUGHPUT:

Greater than 8 hours for detection
System is continuous and provides real time analysis with no defined tests/samples
The system or device is currently fully automated
Device or system is intended for multiple detection assays
0-1 solutions, buffer, eluents, and/or reagents
0 components
Less than 5 minutes is required for set-up
1-2 steps are required for detection

LOGISTICS:

Very brief (minutes-hours) training and minimal technical skills
Approximately the size of a carry-on luggage suitcase
Between 5 and 25 kg
Satellite and wired connections are available
System or device has 110V electrical requirement
4-8 hours battery life

OPERATIONS:

Can be used from 4°C to 37°C
Performance is not influenced by relative humidity
Greater than 10 years expected life
Results can be viewed in real-time
The system or device is currently fully autonomous
The system does not employ any software
The system hardware is open and available for modification

DETECTION:

Greater than 250 µL
Excellent specificity. System has occasional false alarms under certain conditions (<2%)
Only count rate
Down to background level radiation for count rate
System is used for surveying

Tier Selection